That's all from us as things seem to be brightening up out there.

Here's a short recap:

• Heavy snow has caused school closures and misery for motorists - with seven-hour delays and 17 miles of congestion reported on the M62
• Freezing conditions and strong winds have also disrupted railways and air travel, with delays at Liverpool John Lennon Airport
• Met Office yellow alerts remain in force across much of the region

Please listen to BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio Lancashire and BBC Radio Merseyside for the very latest updates.

Traffic is moving well again though there is still a lot of snow on the side roads across in West Yorkshire around Huddersfield, BBC reporter Gemma Laister says.

RAC breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said the situation on the M62 was likely caused by a large amount of snow falling in a short period.

Image source, PA Media

He said that could lead to problems even if a road had been treated, and it looks like that's what happened on the M62 overnight.

"Things are thankfully now improving but the scenes of stranded drivers is the perfect reminder of why it's so important to carry a warm blanket, a winter coat, extra layers, food and drink and a power bank and phone charging cable," he added.

Palwasha Afzal was stuck on the M62 motorway for more than seven hours in miles-long tailbacks caused by a night of heavy snowfall and said it was "horrific" conditions.

Image source, Palwasha Afzal/PA

Traffic was brought to a standstill on long stretches of the road running through Greater Manchester and Yorkshire in the early hours of the morning, with some drivers said to have abandoned their cars.

Image source, Emma Hamilton/PA

The actions of some drivers have exacerbated disruption on the M62, according to police.

Greater Manchester Police said ploughing and gritting on the motorway, where some drivers have spent nine hours, was "severely delayed" by motorists illegally using the hard shoulder and closed lanes.

The RAC said "the situation was made worse" by drivers overtaking other vehicles and getting stuck in fresh snow.

Salt spread by gritters does not stop snow from settling, but it does make it easier to remove to snow.

BBC Weather Watchers

Now for an animal edition of snow pics!

BBC Weather Watcher Sally sent these two from Cheshire.

Image source, Sally/BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Sally/BBC Weather Watchers

And these little ones were snapped in Blackpool.

You can become a BBC Weather Watcher here.

Image source, photographyem/BBC Weather Watchers

Lucinda Moore
Reporter, BBC Radio Merseyside

Like many I woke up this morning to a very snowy scene. A fair few inches had fallen in Heswall in Wirral.

My eldest’s school was shut, my youngest’s remained open. Cue lots of sledges on the school run this morning. Once I’d tentatively navigated my way down my road and on to a bus route, the journey was relatively straightforward, although I noticed that there was a lot less traffic.

My child safely dropped off, I made my way into Liverpool. The sun was out, and it seemed the thaw was already beginning in earnest. I passed a family out building a snowman in their front garden and a man joyously rolling an enormous snowball.

Schools on the Isle of Man remain closed for a second day due to heavy snowfall overnight.

All schools and colleges on the island were closed on Thursday due to the deteriorating conditions.

Ronaldsway Met Office said while the snow would "soon turn slushy" in the morning's bright and sunny conditions, a widespread frost would create "hazardous conditions on the pavements and roads" later.

A government spokeswoman said "the safety of pupils and staff travelling to and from school across the island is of paramount importance".

BBC weather presenter Simon King has an update on the forecast, the good news is sunny spells are expected but followed by frost.

More than 150 schools have now closed in east Lancashire due to significant snowfall.

They include schools, external in Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley.

The poor weather has also led to closures in Lancaster, Pendle, Preston, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Wyre.

Video journalist Richard McCarthy arrived home shortly after 07:00 GMT, having been stuck on the M62 for more than seven hours.

Image source, Emma Hamilton/PA

He had been in Manchester to cover Manchester United's Europa League match at Old Trafford.

"The worst bits were around Huddersfield," he said. "A couple of highway patrolmen gave me a push when I was stuck, but said they couldn't promise that the road ahead would be more clear. Thankfully, it was."

All types of vehicles were getting stuck in the challenging conditions, he added.

"I saw lots of abandoned sports cars: one Jaguar left on the road with a shovel stuck in the ground next to it and no driver.

"There were lots of lorries losing momentum and getting stuck too."

Sefton Council has suspended its bin and recycling collections today due to the severe weather conditions.

It advised people to leave their bins out for collection on Monday.

Our correspondent Mairead Smyth earlier gave this update from a bridge over the snow-hit M62.

She spoke to people who got stranded overnight after attending events in Manchester.

So where are the worst affected areas?

Unsurprisingly, it's "over the top" of the M62

Some Merseyrail services are resuming after they were suspendeddue to bad weather.

Services on the Southport Line, Chester and Ellesmere Port Lines, and Hunts Cross Line will restart, subject to delays and cancellations.

A Merseyrail spokesperson said rail replacement buses could not be obtained due to the conditions.

Commuters are advised to check Merseyrail Service Updates, external and its Twitter page, external for updates.

Image source, bbc

Network Rail says several fallen trees have blocked lines between Manchester and Sheffield, meaning no trains can run.

Train operators TransPennine Express and Northern are also among those affected by the severe weather, with some services cancelled.

There are some power cuts across the North West due to overhead power lines being brought down.

Electricty North West lists the areas affected.

Gemma Maull
BBC Radio Merseyside

More snow than we’ve had in a long time in Pensby, Wirral this morning.

Image source, Gemma Maull

However the sun has just started shining and there is a hint of some blue in the sky amongst the snow clouds.

Image source, Gemma Maull

As we've been reporting all morning, heavy snow overnight left the M62 motorway at a virtual standstill - and there are still severe delays this morning.

As of 10:00 GMT, the worst disruption was between junction 20 (Rochdale) and junction 24 (Huddersfield) in both directions, with lane closures and three-hour delays.

There is currently 17 miles (27km) of congestion between these junctions,according to the latest update from National Highways., external

A new severe weather warning has been issued by the Met Office, with ice likely to pose more of a threat than snow during the next 24 hours.

The ice warning is in force for the vast majority of the North West until 10:00 GMT on Saturday

Image source, Met Office

The Met Offoce warned of

• Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
• Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths

Particular care is advised on areas which saw snowfall on Thursday night - the snow on the ground turns to ice and can be extremely dangerous.