Schools were closed after snow brought major disruption to the region yesterday.

Nineteen schools in North Yorkshire closed or opened late after several inches of snow fell during the morning.

Pupils at three schools and colleges in the Redcar area of east Cleveland were also given the day off.

Teams of gritters began work on streets in Middlesbrough at 6am after council staff received a severe weather warning.

On the North York Moors, several roads were impassable. A police car had to be abandoned after getting stuck and four articulated lorries were trapped on the A171 Whitby to Scarborough road.

The landlord of the remote Lion Inn pub, at Blakey Ridge, on the moors, was again cut off last night after 15ft drifts prevented snowploughs and blowers getting through.

Barry Crossland, who was trapped in the pub for three days last week, said: "It is just one of the joys of living up here."

The Highways Agency warned motorists to take extra care this morning after more snow and ice was forecast last night.

A Met Office spokesman said today would start off fine, but further snow could fall on the region tonight.

* Police were yesterday appealing for witnesses after the driver of a red Renault Megane died when his vehicle left the road and hit a tree on the B1416 at Ruswarp, near Whitby, North Yorkshire, on Tuesday afternoon.