TRAFFIC snarl-ups hit snowbound Newton Abbot and surrounding areas this afternoon as everyone made an early dash home to beat the worst of the winter blizzards.

Motorists found the going tough with long lines as traffic caused by others executing the same snow-dodging escape to warmth and safety.

Highways chiefs acted quickly to keep busy main roads open in the wake of the millions of snowflakes piling up across the county's transport network.

Telegraph Hill was closing at 3pm so efforts could be concentrated on keeping Haldon Hill and the Dawlish to Teignmouth A379 clear of the winter debris from the heavens. The A380 closure extends to Eagle Farm at Kingsteignton.

Devon remained on the Met Office's Red alert this afternoon, meaning loss of life was a possibility because of the severe weather rampaging across the South West, courtesy of Storm Emma.

The simple advice from emergency services and Highways England was: 'Stay off the roads.'

One motorist said: ‘The roads are absolutely chaotic.

‘Everyone seems to have had the same idea to rush home early – but it is causing major problems.

‘It look me nearly an hour to get from one side of Newton Abbot to the other.

‘Most of the roads are at a standstill and people, unable to get their cars up their roads, have just abandoned them in the snow.’

On his slow and hazardous journey he saw a pedestrian, who appeared to have slipped over, being treated by paramedics just off of East Street.

‘It’s treacherous and everyone needs to take care,’ he said.

Some 30cm of the white nuisance was expected to carpet local areas this afternoon with as much as 50cm on Dartmoor. Freezing rain was expected to add to the deadly cocktail this evening with conditions easing over the weekend.

Gritters and snowploughs have been out in force trying to keep main routes open.

Cllr Stuart Hughes, spokesman for County Hall's highway management team, said this afternoon: 'We are forecast to get unprecedented levels of snow - and because of that we are taking the preventative measure to ensure people do not get stranded on Telegraph Hill.'

He added: 'Public safety is of paramount importance - and we hope that people heed the warnings we are receiving from the Met Office.'