TRAVEL, trade and schools were all hit as severe weather blitzed the region this week.

As workers struggled with rush-hours, some schools were closed amid heating problems and difficulties for both teachers and pupils reaching classrooms.

And gritting machines were on standby as even worse weather was forecast midweek.

Police reported a number of minor accidents as drivers tussled with appalling road conditions.

Eastbourne Comprehensive in Darlington was one of the worst-hit schools. The building had a leaking roof, no heating, a flooded computer suite and maths department, 12 closed classrooms and electricity problems.

But headteacher Karen Pemberton said some pupils went back to school on Wednesday as they had to prepare for exams. They were being taught in a part of the school which had escaped the problems.

Darlington's Longfield School was also closed for a time, but opened for years ten and 11 - again for important exams. For other pupils at the school, the half-term break was extended.

Headteacher Keith Cotgrave said schools had to abide by health and safety rules and did not take closure decisions lightly.

In all, seven Darlington schools were closed on Monday and four more on Wednesday "because of road conditions."

A spokesman for Darlington Council said: "The schools which closed were likely to open for the rest of the week.

"The decision to close is made by individual head teachers. We have stressed to all schools to open wherever possible."

In North Yorkshire, 14 schools were closed on Monday but most re-opened the following day.

Those which stayed closed included Appleton Wiske and Arkengarthdale Primary.

Pupils at Nunthorpe School were sent home on Monday, with letters for parents explaining the school would be closed the following day because of the weather.

In Teesdale, seven schools were closed on Wednesday and another seven in Weardale. These included Staindrop Comprehensive, Teesdale Comprehensive, Tow Law Primary and Wolsingham School and Community College.

Meanwhile, businesses also took a hammering.

A spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses said the weather caused problems through staff not being able to get into work.

"One person absent can have a big impact on a small firm," said John Wright, regional and national vice-chairman.

And at Darlington's Cornmill Centre, deputy manager Susan Young said footfall figures were down on the same week last year.

"People are having trouble getting into town," she said.

"Shopping is a very weather-driven activity and at least we have the benefit of being a covered mall. But the general feel of the centre is quieter."

In Northallerton, the Wednesday market went ahead, but was vastly reduced in size.

Hundreds of gritting machines have been putting thousands of tonnes of salt on local roads.

On the North York Moors, several inches of snow fell over the weekend.

Durham County Council used about 1,800 tonnes of salt in just a few days and used 80 gritters and snowploughs.

Nine gritters were working to keep roads clear in Darlington, salting about 300 miles of carriageway.

As the working week began, North Yorkshire County Council sent out 100 gritters and put farm contractors on standby in more remote parts of the county.

Some services were hit. In Hambleton, refuse collections were disrupted by the bad weather. Only half of the district council's routine work had been completed by midweek.

And as snow continued to fall, wagons were unable to reach properties on higher ground and in outlying villages.

The council's head of environmental health, Eric Kendall, said: "We have been collecting wherever we can, although the service is greatly reduced.

"We have only two rounds working, with Northallerton particularly badly affected. If the weather continues to be poor we expect that some people will not get a call this week."

Major delays were reported on many main routes.

The A19 was badly hit; several vehicles were involved in a collision on the A1 near Darlington and there were two accidents on the trunk road near Scotch Corner.

By midweek, all main routes in County Durham were open, the A66 passable with care at the county border. Some minor roads, especially in the High Pennines, were blocked and driving conditions were said to be hazardous.

Police helped dozens of vehicles which became stuck in the snow and a number of minor accidents were reported.

Rail and air travel escaped major problems.

Forecasters said the situation should start to ease today, with the weekend set to be milder and mainly dry.