A WINTER snap hit the region this weekend with many places on higher ground hit by snow drifts while elsewhere winds battered trees and buildings.
A caravan was overturned by the strong winds at Crimdon Dene Caravan Park, on the East Durham coast, on Friday night.
The caravan was empty no-one was hurt, but the park is understood to have been evacuated as a precaution.
Trees came down in John Whitehead Park in Billingham and another in Hutton, near Guisborough, which blocked the road for some time.
Sheep shelter from the snow in Landon Beck, County Durham. PIC: North News.
As the mercury plummeted towards zero, picturesque wintry scenes were captured throughout the County Durham countryside.
Some of the first snowfall of the season blanketed higher ground in the Pennines, Weardale and Teesdale.
There were picture-postcard images of winter across the snow-covered hills and meadows at Meadow’s Edge, near Stanhope, Muggleswick Common and Edmundbyers.
Meanwhile, Durham Police issued a safety warning to motorists on Sunday morning after the freezing conditions caused treacherous driving conditions.
There were several minor accidents on the A19, one of which caused part of the southbound carriageway to close between the B1320 at Peterlee and the A181 at Wingate for a short time for recovery work to take place.
Tan Hill Inn in Swaledale received plenty of snow, but said despite the -10 wind chill the scenery was beautiful and the gritters had been out in force.
Hawes in upper Wensleydale also got a covering of snow, as did Sutton Bank, near Thirsk, but North Yorkshire County Council’s gritters ensured the roads stayed relatively clear.
Higher level routes in Hambleton and priority one routes in Richmondshire were covered by the grit teams on Saturday and Sunday overnight, with both priority one and two routes covered in both districts in early morning shifts.
Dalby Forest in the North York Moors National Park reported gales that brought down trees resulting in the forest being closed to the public on Saturday until Sunday.
A spokesman for the forest thanked the public for their patience while the forest was closed, and advised walkers not to walk under leaning trees.
He said the Forestry Commission hoped to have all the trails clear in the next couple of days.
Live flood alerts are still in place on the upper and tidal River Ouse in York.
Residents of Stanley, County Durham, woke on Saturdy to a covering of snow. PIC: North News
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