Skip to content

Schools closed and roads impassable by snow

BBC A lorry drives in falling snow past a row of housesBBC
Driving conditions were treacherous across much of the area as seen in Lanchester, County Durham

Dozens of schools were closed and roads made impassable by heavy snowfall in the North East and Cumbria.

An amber warning for snow and ice was in force across the Pennines overnight until midday on Friday while a yellow warning for the region is in place until 10:00 GMT on Saturday.

About 40 schools were closed in County Durham while seven were shut in Cumbria amid "treacherous" conditions.

Northern Powergrid said more than 33,000 customers had power restored.

The firm, which manages the North East's electricity network, said it had been a "challenging day" as a result of the snowfall and apologised.

The A66 between Brough and Scotch Corner reopened on Friday.

It had been closed since 14:00 on Thursday by Highways England as heavy snow fell across the region.

PA Media/Owen Humphreys People sledge next to the Angel of the North, a large metal form of a human with enormous outspread armsPA Media/Owen Humphreys
Away from disruption some people have been enjoying the snow

Cumbria Police said there were reports a number of vehicles had become stuck while trying to use alternative routes crossing between County Durham and Cumbria, while one woman told the BBC of her gratitude for a gritter driver who helped her near Bishop Auckland.

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The Met Office said its yellow warning meant ice was "likely to be a hazard where snow had fallen overnight" and there could be "some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces".

Away from disruption, many people have been out and about enjoying the wintery flurry with some using the slopes below the Angel of the North at Gateshead for sledging.

PA Media/Owen Humphreys Aerial view of snow surrounding the Angel of the NorthPA Media/Owen Humphreys
Snow covered large swathes of the North East and Cumbria

Staff and volunteers cleared paths at Beamish Museum near Stanley to ensure the site could open to visitors.

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
PA Media/Owen Humphreys Rows of houses with snow covered rooves at GatesheadPA Media/Owen Humphreys
A yellow warning for ice is in place until Saturday morning
PA Media/Owen Humphreys A woman in a yellow coat walks a dog along a snow covered path next to a pubPA Media/Owen Humphreys
The weather did not stop people and pets going for a walk in Tow Law, County Durham
PA Media/Owen Humphreys A man shovels snow in Tow LawPA Media/Owen Humphreys
Clear-ups were under way around the region
Presentational grey line

Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].