PEOPLE were today bracing themselves for more freezing conditions after snow and ice brought chaos across Gwent.

More than twenty schools were closed across the county today and traffic was brought to a standstill on many roads as the freezing weather created treacherous driving conditions.

Police reported no major accidents this morning, but warned many minor roads remained dangerous.

And the Met Office has warned that the cold weather is set to continue well into the weekend with temperatures expected to plunge to minus 5 tonight.

Gritters and snow ploughers worked through the night clearing the roads with the Valleys and parts of Monmouthshire worst affected.

Police said there were no reports of major accidents on the roads this morning.

Minor accidents on the roads yesterday caused rush-hour gridlock in Newport.

A collision between two cars in Upton Road at 4pm caused long delays for motorists heading towards the M4.

And a broken-down vehicle on the westbound carriageway of the motorway was cleared by police in only 15 minutes but drivers reported queues of slow-moving vehicles from the Coldra junction all the way to Cardiff.

Blaenau Gwent councillor John Hopkins warned motorists to drive carefully.

He said: "The conditions are not very good at all up here. Traffic is moving on the main roads but we have to exercise caution.

"It's very cold and icy and we've got about two inches of snow here so people need to be careful, especially the elderly."

A Met Office spokesman predicted further disruption over the weekend with the cold weather set to continue.

He said: "There will be a maximum temperature of five degrees Celsius but it will feel much colder in the wind. Tonight it is expected to fall to minus five degrees Celsius."

He added that Saturday is expected to be cloudy with some sunshine but freezing conditions would continue at night on Saturday and Sunday. Age Concern is warning pensioners not to economise by turning down heating during the cold weather.

A spokesman said: "We recommend pensioners eat at least one hot meal a day, sip hot drinks to keep body temperature constant, wrap up in and out of bed. Lots of thin layers are better than one thick one." Age Concern can be contacted on 0800 00 99 66.