SNOW closed roads, schools and airports across Yorkshire yesterday and was blamed for 19 accidents on North Yorkshire’s roads.

North Yorkshire Police said the vast majority of collisions caused vehicle damage only, but three led to people suffering minor injuries.

Accidents included one on the A64 eastbound carriageway near Malton, in which a car left the road and ended up in a ditch, one on the A1 southbound near Newby Hall in which a BMW left the road, and another involving an articulated lorry which left the B1248 at Wharram, near Malton. The driver suffered a back injury and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

The A169 Whitby to Pickering road was closed all day by drifting snow in the Goathland area, while other key routes such as the A171 at Sutton Bank were passable with care.

Some flights from Leeds Bradford Airport were cancelled and suspended for a while, and Robin Hood Airport, at Doncaster, closed temporarily.

All schools remained open in York, but schools forced to close in East Yorkshire included Barmby-on- the-Marsh, Driffield Infants, Driffield Junior, Driffield, Garton on the Wolds Primary, Market Weighton, Snaith, Warter Primary and Wetwang Primary.

In North Yorkshire, schools which closed or partially closed included, Boroughbridge High, Knaresborough, Great Ouseburn CE Primary, Husthwaite CE Primary, Norton CP, St John Fisher RC, Harrogate, St Peter’s CE Primary, Harrogate, St Robert’s RC Primary, Harrogate, Welburn Hall, Kirkbymoorside, Western Primary, Harrogate, Whitby College and Selby High School – which was open for A Level students only.

In York, Fishergate Green councillor Andy D’Agorne hailed a decision to clear the Millennium Bridge and nearby cycle tracks of snow and ice, using a special non-corrosive de-icing agent which would not damage the bridge steel.

Weathermen said the snow was easing off, but warned of treacherously icy conditions today.