TWO women died in separate accidents during a day of traffic problems across a freezing Oxfordshire yesterday.

A driver was pronounced dead at the scene of a two-car crash on the A415 Abingdon Road, near Culham, at about 1.50pm, while a pedestrian was killed in a collision with a silver Peugeot 306 in Ladder Hill, Wheatley, at the junction with Cuddesdon Road, shortly after 2.30pm.

Last night motorists were warned to take extra care on the roads with heavy snowfall expected in parts of the county overnight.

Police were not able to say yesterday if either fatal accident was related to the weather.

Gritters were out across the county on Wednesday night and last night as freezing temperatures were blamed for a series of other accidents on Oxfordshire’s roads.

Crashes in Didcot, Chipping Norton, Berinsfield, Bladon, Boars Hill and just outside the entrance to RAF Benson were all blamed on icy conditions.

Drivers faced long delays as roads across the county were left closed or partially blocked.

A white Mercedes lorry tipped over at the Asthall Barrow roundabout near Witney at about 10.30am, causing severe delays on the A40. That accident was not caused by the weather conditions, a police spokesman said.

Met Office forecasters warned road and rail could be affected today if predicted snowfall hits.

Snowy conditions should only last 24 hours, with Saturday and Sunday predicted to be sunny and cold, with the chance of rain on Monday.

Temperatures are expected to drop to -4C over the next few days, with highs of 5C in the day.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Paul Smith confirmed roads were gritted last night and on Wednesday night. He said: “Roads have so far been gritted on five nights this winter.

“Oxfordshire County Council, unlike many other authorities, has a contract whereby we are able to replenish the amount of salt used at short notice.

“We did not run out of salt during last year’s exceptionally cold winter, when we had to start treating the roads as early as October, and we are confident that we have adequate salt to deal with adverse weather this winter.

“The council routinely salts 43 per cent of the county council's road network in cold weather, which is higher than the average for counties across the South East.”

A Met Office spokeswoman said: “There is a high risk of severe weather affecting parts of east and south east England during Thursday evening and Friday.

“Heavy snow showers will give accumulations of 5cm to 10cm (2in to 4in) in places on low ground and 15 to 20cm (6in to 8in) over hills. The snow showers are expected to gradually die out from the north of the area through the day.

“Some drifting snow is likely in the strong north to north-easterly wind. This could cause disruption to travel networks.”

She added the chances of a white Christmas were still “hanging in the balance” and forecasters would know more by Monday.

dhearn@oxfordmail.co.uk