AN ESTIMATED 20 motorists were still stranded in and around Basingstoke’s ring road by 2.30am today.

At one point last night Hampshire Constabulary estimated as many as 2,000 motorists were stuck in and around the ring road.

Pressure on the roads began to ease in the early hours of the morning, but many of those in cars had already given up and walked home or sought refuge in specially opened churches or rest centres.

About 200 abandoned vehicles are believed to be littering roadsides in the Basingstoke area and the A31 from Four Marks and Ropley north towards the Surrey border.

Superintendent Roy Bayntun, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: “We mobilised extra resources and officers with specialist vehicles and equipment to reach motorists as quickly as possible in the worst affected areas around Basingstoke and Alton.

“In Basingstoke we are taking a practical and reasonable approach.

“Our advice to people is to use common sense in deciding when to recover their vehicles.

“Some vehicles have been left in safe locations, others have not.”

He said the A31 should be avoided this morning and extra patrols would be checking for motorists who may still be stranded on minor roads.

Supt Bayntun advised any motorists still stranded to remain with their vehicle, phone police and attempt to keep warm.

If anyone had to abandon their vehicle, they should try to park it in a safe place and leave contact details on the windscreen.

Hampshire County Council said its salting vehicles were out throughout the night to salt the worst affected roads.