Snow affecting North East schools and roads

Motorists are urged to take care in the hazardous conditions

Motorists in north-east England have faced a second day of difficult driving conditions after renewed snowfalls.

Forecasters said the snow had been less widespread than the night before but a strip between the coast and the A1 had been badly affected.

In some areas, including Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland and Sunderland, several inches fell.

Among the roads affected are the A19 at Dalton Piercy, County Durham, and the A1 in Northumberland.

More than 30 schools in Northumberland have been closed. A number of schools on Tyne and Wear and Teesside were also shut.

The A1 was blocked between the A697 junction in Morpeth and the A1068 South Road junction in Alnwick because of snow, and conditions on the A697 north of the A1 junction have been described as hazardous.

Police praised drivers in County Durham for taking care on the icy roads.

Insp Ken Cook, from the Durham force, said: "We have had very few accidents reported this morning, and while this can be partly attributed to better weather conditions than on Thursday our motorists must take credit for driving sensibly in the conditions."

The snow has also led to the closure of a number of National Trust-run properties.

Wallington, Cragside, Gibside and Lindisfarne Castle will reopen when the weather allows.

An illuminations event to celebrate the 160th anniversary of Berwick's Royal Border Bridge has also been postponed.

More snow is forecast for later this evening and is expected to be more widespread.