SNOW and icy conditions brought some of the region's roads and bus services to a standstill yesterday.

Drivers in Teesside, Darlington and the Richmond area of North Yorkshire were badly affected, with several inches of snow falling overnight.

Despite problems in some areas, most of the main roads had been gritted.

Yesterday morning in Yarm, Teesside, the A1044 road was closed after a lorry jackknifed on icy Leven Bank.

Police diverted traffic through nearby Ingleby Barwick, causing massive tailbacks - leaving drivers on five-minute journeys stuck in their cars for more than two hours.

Between Barton, North Yorkshire, and Darlington, police were forced to close the B6275 from 10.30am to noon after six lorries got stuck in ice.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said there had been more than 70 minor accidents throughout the county.

Bus services around Darlington were also affected, with some people waiting more than two hours for a bus.

A spokeswoman for Arriva said: "We did have some difficulties in the Richmond and Newton Aycliffe areas because of the overnight snowfall.

"We also had problems with employees getting to the depot.

"But we made every effort to keep the services running."

A spokesman for the PA weather centre said the North-East outlook for today was mainly dry and sunny, with the chance of some snow showers.

* Easington District Council last night blamed a "traffic gridlock" on the A19 for its failure to grit all its roads in the bad weather last week.

David Taylor Gooby, portfolio holder for the environment, said: "We have a quota of roads to grit and salt during severe weather but cannot do this unless authorised by Durham County Council.

"Last Wednesday we were on stand-by but not authorised to start gritting until 5am on Thursday, when conditions were already bad."

Mr Taylor Gooby added: "Things were made worse by the traffic gridlock on Tuesday night, which was caused by the closure of the A19, and which slowed our vehicles down."