Teesdale and Weardale Mountain Rescue Team ready to help

Steve Owers: "Closure of the A66 can bring knock-on problems."

Mountain rescue teams are preparing to assist other emergency services as heavy snow hits the North East.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the North East of England for Friday.

It said bright spells on Friday morning would be followed by bitter south-easterly winds and light snow flurries, with heavier snow due later.

The Teesdale and Weardale Mountain Rescue Team said closures of main routes can create knock-on problems.

Referring to the expected closure of snow gates on the A66, spokesman Steve Owers said: "When [they] close, motorists chance it on minor exposed rural roads.

"We have a 4x4 vehicle at Barnard Castle and we're waiting for the calls from the police and ambulance service.

"We also have some advanced medics in our team always available and will place them strategically for any problems in the area."

BBC North East and Cumbria weather presenter Paul Mooney said: "Importantly, that south-easterly wind will make the snow drift around.

"It's the sort of day where, on one side of the road, there could be very little lying snow, on the other side you could be knee deep."