SNOW blanketed Oxfordshire and brought the transport system to a standstill, causing chaos for thousands of drivers and rail passengers.

More than six inches (17cm) of snow fell on the county in three hours on Saturday morning, causing gridlock on major routes.

Motorists reported journeys taking almost five hours to cross the city.

The worst affected route was the A34, where there were long tailbacks throughout the weekend on both carriageways, between the Chilton interchange near Didcot and junction nine of the M40 near Bicester.

Jack-knifed lorries made the route impassable at times.

Drivers on the M40, A40 from Oxford to Witney, and A420 from Swindon to Oxford also suffered delays because of the snow, with some forced to abandon their cars.

Stagecoach and Oxford Bus Company services across the city were severely affected all weekend with both companies suspending their services by about 4pm on Saturday.

Police were still warning drivers to beware the icy conditions on the A34 yesterday.

Chief Insp Gill Wootton, of Thames Valley Police roads policing department, said: “Although the snow has stopped, the roads are still unsafe due to the freezing weather conditions.

“We are still experiencing problems on the A34 and we worked throughout the night, assisting the Highways Agency in an attempt to get the vehicles moving.”

According to the Highways Agency, drivers on the A34 northbound carriageway experienced 90-minute delays between the Botley interchange and junction nine of the M40 yesterday because of several jack-knifed lorries.

Drivers were urged not to abandon their vehicles and warned that they could have to pay for the cost of the vehicle’s removal.

Alex Barnett, a spokesman for the Highways Agency, said: “We have done our best to keep the road open by salting it and using snowploughs, but some drivers have struggled, including HGV drivers.”

First Great Western services suffered severe delays and passengers at Oxford railway station were forced to wait hours for trains to different destinations.

Sally Morris, 48, said on Saturday: “We spent five hours driving from Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire to Oxford station because we are trying to fly out of Heathrow to Australia.

“It has been a very long day.”

David Priestley, 44, a history lecturer at Oxford University, said: “There wasn’t enough information on the boards at Oxford station. It was a nightmare.”

Pavel Domigila, 28, a carpenter, added: “I have been here for four hours trying to get a train back to my home in Moreton-in-Marsh. Every time there is a bit of snow the whole system grinds to a halt.”

Some council tenants also struggled to cope with the freezing conditions.

Kathleen Smith, 70, of Nowell Road, Rose Hill, struggled to get through to Oxford City Homes’ emergency number 0800 227676 after her boiler broke on Friday.

A member of staff arrived on Saturday to fix the boiler.

City council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “We have been inundated with calls.”

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk