HEAVY snowfall across the region through the early hours of Thursday morning led to problems on the regions roads and a number of school closures.

COUNTY DURHAM

Durham Police received a number of calls from people stuck on the  roads this morning.

A special constable for the force tweeted: "Lots of calls coming into @DurhamComms from drivers (mainly HGV) stuck around the county, particularly in the Heighington & Redworth area, and the A1M between J58 & J61. Allow lots of extra time if you need to make a journey this morning! Nearly every road has a covering of snow!"

The Northern Echo:

In Chester Street, in Bishop Auckland, became stuck causing long delays

On the A1(M) two lanes were blocked between J63 A167 / A183 (Chester-le-Street) and J64 A195 (Washington) due to an accident but that incident has now been resolved.

One lane was blocked due to an accident on A1(M) southbound before J60 A689 (Bradbury) while another accident just before J62 A690 (Carrville) caused delays. Both accidents have now been cleared.

There are reports of bad conditions on the B1278 between Sedgefield and Trimdon, with several cars stuck.

Eden Terrace leading from the A689 to Kirk Merrington is closed both ways due to ice but has now reopened.

TEES VALLEY

The A171 at Ormesby Bank was closed both ways due to a broken down lorry and icy conditions but has since reopened.

The A19 between Billingham and Hartlepool was closed due to icy conditions for several hours but was reopened at approximately 7am. However, long delays of up to an hour remain due to the closure and conditions.

Cleveland Police said: "A19 northbound is now open but there is expected to be a big backlog of traffic. Please try and use an alternative route and do not travel unless necessary."

NORTH YORKSHIRE

The A66 westbound is currently closed between Gilling West and Ravensworth due to a jack-knifed lorry.

North Yorkshire Police’s force control room tweeted that conditions in Harrogate, Craven and Richmond were particularly bad and urged divers to avoid the B1249 at Staxton Hill near Scarborough if possible due to the conditions.

The A66 has been closed this morning in both directions between Bowes and Brough after snow has created difficult driving conditions in both directions.

There have also been other accidents on the roads.

Fire crews had been called out to a minor accident on the A59 at Blubberhouses earlier in the night, at about 12.30am, when a car and an HGV collided. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had been a low speed collision on snow and ice on the road and everyone was out of their vehicles on their arrival.

The bad weather has also forced farmers to take action to protect livestock, bringing them indoors and to lower fields to avoid what had become a dangerous combination of snow and wind for animals at higher levels.

School buses to schools currently open are also having difficulty.

Coatham Coaches, which collects students from remote villages including Kildale, Chop Gate, Commondale, Danby and Castleton on the edge of the North York Moors to Stokesley School announced Birk Brow was closed and it would be unable to reach the stops.

Residents in Appleton Wiske, in North Yorkshire, are also reporting they are without power to their homes this morning.

In the Yorkshire Dales, contractors and staff manning snow ploughs and gritters worked hard to keep North Yorkshire's highest road, Fleet Moss, open between Hawes and Outershaw, with five foot snow drifts lining the road in places.

High winds were causing snow to drift in blizard conditions and in places crews had to get out shovels to clear roads. 

The Northern Echo:

Snow drifts on Fleet Moss near Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales. Picture: Thomas Beresford (@bezberesford)

MET OFFICE

The Met Office has said strong winds of 65 to 75mph are affecting parts of North Yorkshire are expected to die down this morning and the forecast for the North-East and North Yorkshire today is bright, but cold.

Ice is expected again overnight and tomorrow morning, as temperatures reach -2C in places, but there have been no weather warnings issued by the Met Office for snow.