MORE than 170 schools across North Yorkshire were forced to close today, after the county was covered in several inches of snow.
North Yorkshire County Council said that almost 50 per cent of the schools across the county had been hit by the blizzard-like conditions.
Forecasters said the wintry weather, which set in overnight, would be around for the next few days, but said that further significant snowfalls were unlikely.
Paul Mott, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said the extreme conditions were expected to clear by this afternoon, to be replaced by showers.
He said: "The snow will lie on the ground over large parts of North Yorkshire for the next few days, which will make for treacherous road conditions.
"On Friday, the North York Moors might see a few snow showers, but we do not expect further snow fall on lower ground."
For more information about school closures in the county, visit northyorks.gov.uk
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