On Friday, the first snow began to fall but largely failed to take hold on roads and pavements until Saturday morning when blizzard conditions hit Dartmouth and the South Hams.

Dartmouth Academy, Kingswear Community Primary School, Blackawton Primary School, St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Primary School and Stoke Fleming Community Primary School were all closed on Monday following the return of snow storms to Dartmouth on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Torbay and South Devon Hospital Trust postponed outpatient appointments and again, instituted its appeal for 4X4 drivers to assist staff trying to get into the hospital.

Some supermarkets closed early, some even during the daylight hours over the weekend. Buses were not running on Monday and many shops did not open.

Drivers were again caught out as residents reported vehicles skidding and sliding. The landlord of one establishment, who wished not to be identified, said: “There was no problem coming in over the weekend. There was snow and not all the roads were gritted but people don’t drive to the conditions.

“We were coming down College Way at a speed appropriate to the weather and two cars passed us at speed, although there is no passing lane.”

Devon County Council advised residents to avoid travel today and tonight. Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for highway management said: “Our advice is to avoid travel today and tonight if you can. If you must travel, please do so with extreme care and expect longer journey times and disruption.

“Many of the major roads are passable with care, but a lot of the minor roads in Devon this morning are impassable and will remain so until we are able to divert resources from the priority road network.

“Road temperatures, while rising a little today, will drop again tonight which may lead to icy conditions and black ice forming especially where snow has melted. “Driving conditions will be difficult again overnight and into tomorrow morning.”

The Council issued other general advice:

• Avoid overnight travel unless absolutely essential as roads will always be more hazardous at night with less traffic and colder temperatures;

• Never assume a road has been salted. Remember that showers or rain will wash salt off roads leaving them prone to ice, and in extreme cold even salting will not stop ice from forming;

• Allow additional time for your journey and reduce your speed;

• Drive with care and according to the conditions;

• If you have vulnerable or elderly neighbours, think about how they could possibly be helped through the cold spell;

• Try to maintain indoor temperatures to at least 18C, particularly if you are not mobile, have long-term illness or are 65 or over. NHS Choices has more information on staying healthy during cold weather;

• Listen to local radio for updates on current weather conditions and ensure you are stocked with food and medications

• Check out any school closures and sign up for alerts for any school by clicking on ‘Alert Me’.

For more information and travel advice from Devon County Council visit: www.devon.gov.uk/winter_travel or for updates on Twitter follow @DevonAlert