Snow falls in region – with a lot more to come

Up to 20cms of snow – eight inches – fell across East and North Yorkshire yesterday, making it one of the hardest-hit areas in the country and bringing chaos to some of the region's roads.

And with another 10cms predicted to settle today with more snow expected on Saturday, forecasters have warned the freezing conditions in Yorkshire show no sign of abating.

"More snow is on its way, there are really no signs of a let-up in the weather for the next 14 days," Met Office forecaster Dave Britton said. "Certainly parts of Yorkshire have had a lot more than their fair share of snow.

"The Yorkshire Wolds, North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales have been pretty badly affected and there was up to 20cms of snow on the highest parts of the Pennines yesterday.

"We are expecting a further 10cms of snow today and more snow on Saturday as well."

Police forces across the region said there had been a spike in the number of crashes yesterday, with more than 35 incidents in North Yorkshire alone – particularly focused around the North York Moors.

In one incident a car carrying three people crashed on Osgoodby Bank, Thirsk. Its occupants were taken to the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, and treated for minor injuries.

Last night temperatures were expected to plunge as low as minus 5C and severe weather warnings were in place across North and East Yorkshire.

East Riding County Council was predicting a 12 hour-overnight fall of snow and up to 15cms – six inches – settling on the Yorkshire Wolds.

Police are warning driving conditions will be particularly hazardous this morning.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "We are expecting very icy conditions and would urge people to check weather warnings before they are setting off and to avoid any unnecessary journeys.

"Motorists should take extreme care even if roads are gritted and follow safety precautions outlined on police websites."

Council gritting teams were out in force yesterday and overnight, distributing some of the 200,000 tonnes of grit stockpiled across the region.

Most major roads in Yorkshire were kept open, although the A170 at Sutton Bank was closed following an accident, with drivers diverted along a caravan route through Coxwold.

The A64 near Malton was reduced to one lane while the A169 Pickering to Whitby road was also severely affected by the wintry weather. There was also long delays on the A165 Hull to Bridlington road and the A1035 near Beverley and the B1248 near Wetwang, following accidents.

A spokesman for East Riding County Council said last night: "Snow showers began again in East Yorkshire from 4pm and are expected to increase in intensity throughout the night until 6am.

"The council will continue to monitor the weather forecasts and treat the road network as appropriate. Scouting vehicles will be deployed to monitor the condition of the precautionary network and re-treat it where required.

"A full re-treatment of the precautionary network is planned for around 2.30am today with ploughing and re-treatments taking place where required."

North Yorkshire County Council said six village primary schools had been forced to close yesterday, while schools elsewhere in the region reported just a handful of pupils turning up.

Local authorities across Yorkshire have amassed salt stockpiles at their highest level ever in response to some being caught out by last year's heavy snow.

Meanwhile in Whitby, Scarborough Borough Council was forced to abandon planned essential maintenance on the hydraulic valve of the town's swing bridge due to the weather.

Volunteers called for to clear ice

A pedestrian's charity is calling on local authorities to use volunteer ice wardens to keep pavements clear this winter.

Living Streets said there were 7,000 snow and ice related hospital admissions last year and vulnerable people felt trapped in their homes as councils neglected pavements as they battled to keep roads clear.

Chief executive Tony Armstrong said: "We want to see local authorities sign a winter contract with their community to work together so no one is isolated or vulnerable because of the weather.

"This contract should include gritting, co-ordinating volunteer ice wardens to keep communities moving."