Weather update (10am)

Police are advising people to stay at home today after snow blanketed the Island, closed roads and made conditions extremely treacherous.

The Mountain Road is closed, the Douglas to Ramsey Coast Road is described as hazardous, as is the Quarterbridge Roundabout, Hillberry, Avondale Road, Bride Hill and Richmond Hill.

Kewaigue Hill remains closed between the Fort Island Roundabout and the Old Castletown Road, and all bus services have been suspended.

However, a short time ago forecasters said the worst of the weather was over, and the sun was expected soon.

All Island schools are closed including King William's College, the Buchan School and the Isle of Man College on what would have been the first day of the new term.

Flights to Liverpool and Manchester face delays after both of those airports closed until further notice, although Ronaldsway remains open for business.

There are no mail deliveries today, there will be no bin collections and both the northern and eastern civic amenity sites are shut.

The Manx Blind Welfare Society, the Manx Foundation for the Physically Disabled and Age Concern say their services are severely limited, and the Southern Swimming Pool is also shut.

Ramsey Cottage Hospital says while the minor injuries unit is open, outpatients appointments have all been cancelled.