HEAVY snowfall blocked roads and caused treacherous driving conditions in parts of the North-East and North Yorkshire yesterday as forecasters warned of more snow.

People woke to a covering of snow in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham with falls increasing during the day.

Roads already icy from freezing overnight temperatures caused treacherous driving conditions, with several spills across the region.

Among the roads affected were the A1 western bypass, at Gateshead, while the Houghton Cut on the A690 cut, between Houghton-le-Spring and Durham, was only passable with care.

Parts of Northumberland experienced severe flooding, with many roads closed and trains between Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed were replaced by buses.

Marsden Primary School, in Mill Lane, Whitburn, South Tyneside, was closed yesterday after a leaking roof disrupted the electricity supply.

The Cleveland Hills and parts of the North York Moors were also badly hit. By late afternoon the snow had turned to sleet, leading to floods on many roads.

The A170 at Sutton Bank, near Thirsk was closed for several hours, as was nearby Boltby Bank. The A169 between Pickering and Whitby was badly affected and heavy snowfall left the A173 at Great Ayton only passable with care.

Police said roads in the Chop Gate, Kildale and Carlton-in-Cleveland areas were only passable using four-track vehicles and they advised drivers to avoid the area.

The A19 was down to one lane between Crathorne and the Osmotherley turn off.

In Osmotherley, cars got stuck trying to get up Clack Bank.

Locals said three inches of snow had fallen by mid-afternoon. There were reports of a number of cars skidding off the road between Great Ayton and Easby.

By 4pm, all roads in North Yorkshire apart from Boltby Bank had reopened.

A police spokesman said: "We have had several reports of vehicles stuck in the snow in the affected areas, but nothing serious.

"It seems as though the snow is turning into floods and we are having more problems with that than with the snow."

He urged motorists to take care this morning as icy conditions have been forecast.

"Gritters will be out tonight, but drivers should take their time in the morning and avoid making any unnecessary journeys."