GWENT awoke to a white St David's Day today - and the snow brought difficult driving conditions and school closures.

And workers were today facing a race against time to make Newport's St Woolos Cathedral safe for tonight's Ash Wednesday service after fears that rotting roof timbers would give way because of the snow.

The worst affected areas in Gwent were in the Valleys. In Blackwood, conditions were described by police as treacherous.

PC Mark Knight of Blackwood Police Station estimated that around three inches of snow fell in the town early today.

He said: "It is chaotic up here at the moment. There are no road closures and no accidents but it is pretty treacherous and traffic is moving awfully slowly."

Blackwood's bus station was closed. Driver Caroline Powell said conditions were "horrendous".

Mark Rogers depot manager at Stagecoach, Bryn-mawr, said the firm was trying to maintain a bus service but some were now stuck inside by around five inches of snow outside.

In Ebbw Vale, police estimated around an inch of snow lay on the ground today. Philip Collins, station inquiry officer at Ebbw Vale police station, said this morning: "There have not been any road closures but the roads are not very good. They are passable with care."

Nowman Marshall of Marshall's Newsagents, Ebbw Vale, said it was still snowing heavily in the town this morning.

Near Newport, a speed restriction of 30mph was introduced on the M4 as snow continued to fall this morning, and there were reports that parts of the Heads of the Valleys Road were down to one lane. Gwent Police advised people to check the latest information with Traffic Wales on 0845 6026020.

There were school closures in Caerphilly county borough at Trinant Primary, Newbridge Comprehensive, Pontllanfraith Comprehensive and Primary, Blackwood Comprehensive, and Risca Community Comprehesive.

In Blaenau Gwent, Ebbw Vale, Nantyglo and Abertillery Comprehensives were closed, alongside Abertillery primary, Bryngwyn primary at Six Bells, Deighton primary and Georgetown primary, both Tredegar, and Tredegar Comprehensive.

Ystruth Primary, Blaina; Queen Street Juniors, Abertillery; Libanus, Blackwood; Brynbach Primary, Tredegar; Blaentillery Primary, Cwmtillery; and Beaufort Hill Primary, Ebbw Vale were also closed.

Torfaen schools St David's RC, Abersychan Comprehensive, St Alban's High School, Croesyceiliog Comprehensive, West Mon School, Trevethin Community School, Fairwater Comprehensive, St Alban's Primary, St Francis Primary, Victoria Primary, Penywaun Primary, Maendy Primary, Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw, Ysgol Varteg, Penygarn junior, infants and nursery, Brynteg nursery, all Pontypool, Hillside Road primary and St Peter's junior and infants school, both in Blaenavon, were all closed.

In Monmouthshire, Govilon primary school, King Henry VIII Comprehensive, Cantref Primary (both), in Abergavenny, and Usk primary were all closed.

In Newport, Bassaleg Comprehensive, Bettws High, Caerleon Comprehensive, Glasllwch Primary, Malpas Park Primary, MIlton Juniors and Infants, Ringland; Pentrepoeth Primary, Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd, Bassaleg pre school, Maes Ebbw, Marshfield, Caerleon Lodge Juniors, Caerleon Endowed Juniors and Infants, Maesglas Primary, Rogerstone and Mount Pleasant Primaries were also closed. Drivers were being warned to take care and there was a minor collision reported in Woodside, Duffryn, Newport.

The Argus revealed last month that about £3 million worth of repairs were needed on St Woolos Cathedral's medieval roof, but more in-depth investigations over the past two weeks showed the problem was worse than first thought.

Experts feared two rotting wooden beams supporting the roof could crumble under pressure from today's snow and land on the congregation. This morning's 9am service was moved to the cathedral hall, with special church restoration workers today battling to prop up the beams so tonight's service could go ahead as planned.

Canon Mark Soady said: "The moment we realised the severity of it we took the necessary action.

"We have managed to get people in to do remedial work and we are hopeful that we can have the evening service."

He said two new beams were going to be tied underneath the rotting beams in a desperate bid to temporarily prop them up.

If they fail, the congregation at the 7pm service is going to be moved further forward because the cathedral hall would be too small for the congregation, clergy and choir.

Ash Wednesday is one the holiest days in the Christian calendar and marks the start of Lent, the 40-day period Christ spent in the Wilderness before his death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Day. Canon Soady expected up to 100 people to attend today's two services.