FORECASTERS last night predicted snow to sweep across the region today as Arctic conditions continue to grip the country.

Heavy falls were blown in off the North Sea yesterday afternoon, with coastal towns such as Redcar and Whitby among the first to be blanketed in snow.

Scattered flurries peppered other parts of the region, with snowfalls in Newcastle and parts of County Durham becoming heavier throughout the day.

The wintry weather was expected to gradually work its way inland overnight as cold air from the west and warm air off the North Sea continue to clash to form sleet and snow.

To blame is the milder temperature of the North Sea and the freezing land temperatures.

Although the Met Office said many inland areas may escape the snow, persistent wintry showers would continue to cover the region, leaving deep snow on higher ground and in the far North-East.

The region's roads remained open, but police have warned motorists to take extra care with freezing temperatures making driving conditions treacherous.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: "The snow should clear away by New Year's Eve, but the temperatures are going to remain very low over the next few days."

Last night, temperatures were expected to drop to -4C in places, but warmer weather is expected to reach the region at the start of next week.

Much of the rest of the country suffered severe snowfalls yesterday, with parts of Cumbria and the Pennines covered by up to three inches by mid-morning, up to a foot in parts of the Scottish Highlands, eight inches in Glasgow and seven inches in areas of Northern Ireland.