Heavy snow and blizzard conditions swept across the region today, causing dozens of schools to close.

A further four to seven centimetres of snow was predicted this afternoon, with another two expected to fall this evening between 6 and 10pm. Local authorities across the North-East said they had carried out extensive gritting at regular intervals in the last 24 hours, and said they would be carrying on through the night.

Many schools across Darlington were closed for the day, including Carmel RC Technology School, Eastbourne Comprehensive and Longfield School due to adverse weather conditions.

And in County Durham an extensive number of schools closed, including Tanfield Comprehensive, near Stanley, Woodham Community Technology College in Newton Aycliffe, and Deerness Valley Comprehensive.

In North Yorkshire, some roads were reported to be closed following the heavy snowfall, and schools in Malton, Richmond, Goathland, Helmsley and Rosedale were among scores of primaries and secondaries which were forced to close.

Teesside's schools remained the least affected, with no schools at all closed in Middlesbrough.

And Cleveland Police praised motorists for driving carefully, saying there had been less accidents than on a normal day.

Middlesbrough's semi-final Carling cup tie against Arsenal, due to be televised on Sky tonight, was cancelled due to safety concerns because of the weather. It has been rescheduled to Tuesday.