POLICE have issued a fresh warning for low temperatures in the aftermath of the weekend’s snow which caused chaos in the area.

Low temperatures are set to last all week with Thursday seeing an overnight low of -6C. 

This follows several inches of snow which fell overnight on Sunday morning, causing chaos for the rest of the day and on Monday. 

Snow blanketed the district, shutting schools, grounding flights and causing widespread disruption across the area. 

Gritters were also out on the roads on Sunday and Monday, trying to treat the key routes.

Many secondary schools including Cirencester College, Sir William Romney and Deer Park plus dozens of primary schools were all forced to close on Monday. 

However the vast majority of schools in the district were eventually reopened on Tuesday, December 13. 

All recycling and refuse collections services were also suspended across the Cotswold district on Monday and Tuesday due to ‘ongoing freezing temperatures’. 

A Cotswold District Council spokesperson said that the council would be organising catch up collections in the next few days but said services would be delayed due to “the rural nature of the district”. 

Sunday’s snow also caused travel chaos with icy conditions in the morning which led to a multiple-vehicle crash on the M5 between Junction J11A and J12 near Quedgeley. 

The motorway was blocked with long delays but all lanes were eventually reopened in the afternoon. 

Meanwhile the A417 on Sunday afternoon between the M5 and A429 was also closed in both directions due to heavy snowfall in the area.

One motorist on the A417 said it had taken them over three hours to get to the Air Balloon Roundabout from Cirencester on Sunday. 

Glos Police Specialist Ops said on Sunday that the force was dealing with an ‘unprecedented’ amount of weather related incidents across the county. 

Gloucestershire police also closed two roads on Monday due to weather conditions  - the A436 near the Air Balloon Roundabout and the A435 near Charlton Hill to avoid more incidents. 

Stagecoach were unable to operate any of the 51, C62 and 882 services on Sunday. 

Significant disruption was also caused to buses run by Pulham's Coaches and Cotswold Green. 

The Met Office has forecast no more snow for Cirencester this week but temperatures will remain low.

Wednesday daytime will see a highest temperature of 1C, but will then dip to -5C overnight.

Thursday will be slightly warmer during the day, rising to 3C, falling to -5C overnight.

And Friday will have a high of 3C, then fall to -2C overnight.

Popular events around the area were also cancelled or put into doubt, with last minute decisions being made. 

Sir William Romney's School annual carol concert at St Marys' church was cancelled on Tuesday due to the ongoing ‘unreliable’ weather conditions. 

Cotswold Leisure in Cirencester was closed on Sunday due to the weather conditions. 

A match between Cirencester Town Ladies and Bristol’s Red Falcon was cancelled on Sunday.