WINTRY weather brought the area’s roads to a near-standstill during yesterday morning’s rush hour, with thousands of motorists stuck for hours.

Heavy snow, which blew in on Wednesday night but was still falling yesterday morning, caused havoc, with congestion affecting most roads.

The weight of snow broke power lines, leaving 15,000 homes across North Yorkshire and Teesside without electricity in below-freezing temperatures, and up to 3,000 were expected to be without power last night.

More than 800 homes in the east of the region were affected, with Redcar, Easington, Ingleby Barwick, Great Ayton and Scarborough among the worst-hit.

A CE Electric spokeswoman said: “We would hope to have around just 3,000 people without power overnight.

“There is a problem of gaining access for the repairs and we have had a helicopter up helping out.”

Forecasters predicted more wintry showers today, but said conditions were unlikely to be as poor as yesterday.

Yesterday’s weather affected the A19, the A1(M), the A66 and the A1, with jack-knifed lorries causing many blockages, and 3ft-deep drifts hampering drivers.

More than 300 schools were closed and many refuse collections were suspended.

In Darlington, minor roads became gridlocked after the A1M closed between the Darlington and Newton Aycliffe junctions, causing drivers to divert through Darlington.

Three wagons became stuck in North Road for about 45 minutes.

Driver Sandra Moffatt, who travelled less than two miles in three hours, said: “It was a joke. Each junction I turned into was bottle-necked. People just didn’t seem to know how to drive in the conditions.”

Two teenage boys turned out to help Darlington Football Club clear their frozen pitch after they appealed for help.

Conner Woodall and Mark Cuthbert, both 13, helped Quakers staff remove snow at the Neasham Road ground so the club could get on plastic covers to heat it in time for tomorrow’s game against Rochdale.

Darlington’s Christingle market was also cancelled.

Main roads were blocked in Barnard Castle when an articulated lorry became stuck near the Market Cross.

There was a major holdup at Piercebridge crossroads, near Darlington, when several cars slid out of control.

Refuse collections in Wear Valley and Easington district council areas due to take place yesterday will be carried out next Thursday. Normal collections will resume today, weather permitting.

In North Yorkshire, drivers suffered as the freezing roads led to 52 crashes before 4pm.

About 30 schools closed and refuse collections in Richmondshire were suspended.

On Teesside, police shut the A171 Moors Road at Birk Brow, above Guisborough, at about 8.30am.

Snowploughs and gritters worked overtime to keep the route open, but they were overwhelmed by the conditions.