Icy roads and snow showers continued to hamper the region's struggle back to normality today - despite a slight thaw.

Forecasters predicted below-freezing temperatures and show showers would continue until the middle of the week.

A Met Office spokesman said inland areas of the North-East and North Yorkshire could see more snow this evening - although the snow is expected to turn to rain nearer the coast.

The cold snap is expected to ease a little throughout the week before returning again at the weekend with more snow forecast.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls today urged schools to open ‘‘if at all possible’’ as closures threatened exams including some GCSEs and modular exams for AS and A-levels.

Snow and ice continued to cause problems on the trains, with many rail firms operating revised timetables today and warning passengers to expect last-minute cancellations.

Eurostar was also running a restricted service and recommended passengers cancel or postpone their journey if it was not essential.

Britain’s airports were open but passengers were warned to check with their airline before leaving home as there was still some knock-on disruption to flights.

The Met Office warned of widespread icy roads across most of England this morning, snow showers in the South West and possible heavy snow in Northern Ireland.

It also warned of ‘‘treacherous’’ conditions in Wales after snow and sleet fell on to already frozen roads.

Gritting was limited to major roads in most areas as grit stocks fell after daily usage reached around 60,000 tonnes.

Local authorities were being forced to cut their use by a quarter while the Highways Agency was not gritting the hard shoulder of motorways.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said: ‘‘By taking this step we will ensure those supplies of grit we have got will continue, and we will be able to keep most of the major roads open.’’ He said the Highways Agency had placed large orders for imports of salt which should start arriving towards the end of the month.

‘‘If we are faced with a second month of this exceptional weather, we will have substantial additional supplies on which we can rely.’’ A fleet of lorries has already started delivering 12,000 extra tonnes of de-icing salt made available by chemicals firm Ineos.

The salt, due to be delivered to Wilhelmshaven in Germany, was diverted for use in the UK after emergency requests.

Fifty trucks left the firm’s depot in Runcorn, Cheshire, yesterday morning, with another 50 scheduled to deliver more supplies today.

The salt will be supplied to some of the worst-hit areas including Pembrokeshire in South Wales, East Yorkshire, Fife, Gloucestershire, Bradford and Sheffield.