Seven die as drivers ignore warnings of freezing fog

and northern England. Police closed a number of roads and large stretches of motorway, blaming a number of the incidents on speeding motorists who had ignored

fog warnings. ''People just don't take any notice at all, it is nothing less than criminal behaviour,'' said one senior officer.

The worst crash was on the southbound carriageway of the M1 near Alfreton, Derbyshire, at lunchtime. Three people were killed in a

multiple crash involving around 30 vehicles. The M62 near Huddersfield was closed for more than five hours after a

60-vehicle pile-up in which one person died and at least 50 others were injured.

Visibility was down to 25 yards. The southbound A1 was closed between Knottingley and Wentbridge in West Yorkshire, where another person was killed and 13 injured in a

string of multiple accidents. Further south, one person died and 26 were injured in six pile-ups on the A1 and A1(M) near Doncaster.

More than 50 vehicles were involved and a 20-mile stretch of the road was blocked in both directions. A seventh person died in one of a series of crashes over a four-mile

stretch on the A38, which links Derby and Sheffield, at Ripley, about four miles from the M1. Two hours earlier, the eastbound carriageway was closed at Clifton,

near Brighouse, when an articulated lorry jack-knifed. Further east, in West Yorkshire, at least 11 people were injured, one seriously, in a series of accidents on a fog-shrouded four-mile stretch

of the A1. Meanwhile, a seven-mile stretch of the M1 in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire was closed at lunchtime after a spate of accidents.

Police said there were four accidents on the northbound carriageway in Derbyshire between Annesley and South Normanton, and a fifth on the southbound carriageway along the same stretch.

Further south, in Nottinghamshire, police closed the M1 northbound between junction 26 at Nuthall and junction 27 after a lorry carrying scrap metal overturned.

A senior policeman last night blamed motorists for causing the M62 crash, at Ainley Top, as they ignored fog warnings and ploughed into standing traffic.

''People just don't take any notice at all. It is nothing less than criminal behaviour,'' said Chief Inspector Mel Bunting of West Yorkshire

police. West Yorkshire divisional fire officer Eddie Morton said: ''You can't blame the fog for the accident.

It can only be put down to bad driving.'' Last night, forecasters urged drivers heading off for the Christmas

break to beware of more freezing fog. London Weather Centre warned of widespread fog and frost, which was likely to linger into this afternoon.

''If it does, then it will come straight back again in the early evening, thickening up,'' a spokesman said. ''Visibility could be down to 100 yards in some places, so drivers should give due care and

attention.'' Worst affected areas are expected to be the Midlands, central and southern England, and the North-east.

The RAC warned: ''In these conditions, speed should be absolutely

minimal and dipped headlights or front fog lights should be turned on.