Yesterday the Met Office issued yellow warnings for snow and ice for a number of areas across England and Scotland. 

Motorists were stuck in snow for hours overnight on the northern section of the M25, and the motorway was also closed in both directions between junction 23 South Mimms and junction 25 for the A10, which is adjacent to News UK’s Newsprinters site at Broxbourne. 

Distribution of titles including the Sun, The Times, The Telegraph and Financial Times ran late as a result. 

A News UK spokesperson told Printweek: “Due to severe weather in the South East, there has been significant disruption to the overnight distribution of newspapers printed by Newsprinters in Broxbourne. Motorway closures mean that newspaper delivery in many parts of the south of the country may be disrupted or delayed.”   

“We apologise to retailers and customers who are not able to get a copy of their usual newspaper. Newsprinters will make continued efforts to deliver newspapers to retailers during Monday.”

Menzies Distribution reported late publisher arrivals impacting its schedules, with some newspapers not arriving at its network until gone 6am. 

Reach’s Mirror titles were also late in some locations according to the Menzies report; while the Liverpool Echo, Manchester Evening News and Newcastle Journal were notified as being 24 hours late. 

Archant titles in East Anglia also ran behind schedule. 

Wholesaler Smiths News reported multiple late runs, with re-runs necessary in several areas for the Sun, Times, FT and Telegraph. 

As well as late inbound deliveries from publishers, distribution was also impacted because some drivers were stuck in the snow and unable to reach their depots. 

The weather warnings for extend until Tuesday for the East Midlands, East of England, London and South East England; and until Thursday (15 December) for Yorkshire and Humber, North East England, large areas of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland.