BLACK ice and in many places a further overnight snow fall caused further misery for morning rush hour motorists today.

Just as 24-hours earlier there were a series of shunts and bumps reported across County Durham, many on untreated side and estate roads.

Police said in some places road conditions were "treacherous", causing lengthy delays on some routes to work this morning as a result of vehicles becoming stuck or being involved in minor collisions.

Among them were problems in Bearpark, near Durham, where a bus became stuck blocking traffic flows through the village in both directions.

In Heighington, near Newton Aycliffe, a motorist had to be cut free from his car by firefighters after it left Heighington Lane and struck a lamp post.

Acting superintendent Andy Huddleston, head of the Durham force's strategic road policing unit, urged all drivers to proceed with "extreme care".

"Some roads may look clear of snow but black ice is lurking and for the unwary the consequences can be tragic."

The county council has had to reduce road salting to only A and B-class routes due to shortages of grit, havibng dipped into reserves to meet the shortfall in the winter road maintenance budget.

Around £3.5m has been spent over the past month attempting to keep main roads passable during the lengthy cold snap, compared to the initially budgeted £2.75m for the entire winter season.