HEAVY snowfall has created travel disruption for motorists in rural areas of County Durham and North Yorkshire today.

A yellow weather warning of snow and ice, which runs from 12pm today through to 11am on Wednesday, was issued by the Met Office for the North-East and North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire County Council has warned motorists to take extra care if travelling on higher ground.

One lane of the A66 is closed both ways due to snow from A67 (Durham) to A685 (Cumbria).

In the Yorkshire Dales, hazardous driving conditions are being reported on the B6255 Croft Road from the A684 (Hawes) to Green Meadow Close (Ingleton) and further west on the A684 at Garsdale.

A fuel tanker heading for Hawes was caught out as snow turned to ice. A tractor loaded with salt cleared a path to get the wagon moving again.

The Northern Echo:

A tractor comes to the aid of a fuel tanker in the Yorkshire Dales. Picture: Thomas Beresford

There were further problems at Newby Head Pass where lorries and cars were struggling to make it up the incline after heavy snowfall in the area.

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

Conditions on the B6255 at Newby Head Pass. Pictures: Thomas Beresford

On higher ground in County Durham traffic cameras picked up the first of the snowfall on the A689 at Lanehead and the B6277 at Forest-in-Teesdale at 7am.

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

At Thwaite in North Yorkshire and other areas of the Yorkshire Dales, snow ploughs and gritters have been working to clear roads with up to 10cm of snow expected to fall.

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo: