Weather update: Region escapes worst of winter storms

NORTH Staffordshire awoke to snow again this morning as wintry weather continued to grip the region.

But the overnight snowfall was mostly light, compared to other parts of the Midlands.

A severe storm has been battering much of England and Wales, with heavy rain and snow causing flooding and power cuts.

Forecasters said some areas recorded close to their monthly average rainfall for February in just 24 hours.

Meanwhile, a band of snow stretching from south Wales into the Midlands left up to 3,000 homes without electricity in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

The storm also brought strong winds, with gusts of up to 60mph in coastal areas, forecasters said.

Virgin Trains cancelled some services between London and Birmingham and Manchester yesterday and today.

According to the Met Office, temperatures will range from freezing to a maximum of 3C in and around Stoke-on-Trent today.

Forecasters say there will be sunny intervals throughout the day, although more light snow showers are predicted tonight.