FORECASTERS warned the big chill was not going away, as hundreds of children enjoyed another day off school.

More than 100 schools in York, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire stayed shut all day yesterday, and a number will be closed again today.

The extreme conditions also caused severe disruption for motorists across the region.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said 27 roads across the county were blocked by snow or ice and by 4pm yesterday, there had been 27 ice-related road accidents.

Two people were taken to hospital following a head-on crash on the outskirts of York.

The accident happened just before 5pm yesterday on the A19 at Shipton-by-Beningbrough and involved a Suzuki pick-up truck and a VW Golf.

The drivers of both vehicles were treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to York Hospital.

A spokeswoman for the ambulance service said both patients had suffered minor chest injuries.

Police cordoned-off the area and both directions of the A19 between Hurns Lane and Ambler’s Lane was shut for nearly two hours as officers cleared the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is to asked to phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060 247.

Train operator East Coast was hoping to operate 85 to 90 per cent of its services today, with passengers advised to check before travelling, via eastcoast.co.uk or by phoning National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950.

Businesses also continue to be affected by the bad weather, with village pubs in Ryedale reporting a significant drop in trade due to being cut off by the snow.

Geoff Smith, owner of The Hare Inn at Scawton, near Sutton Bank, said he could even be threatened with closure after losing thousands of pounds.

He said roads leading to his remote pub had not been cleared, leaving customers unable to get access.

“Talking to other local publicans who have rural pubs, many think the highways department could and should have done more,” he said.

Ian Walker, landlord of the Wombwell Arms, at Wass, said he had also suffered a loss of business, with plenty of parties cancelling due to the snow. According to forecasters, there is still no end in sight to the bad weather and temperatures are set to plummet even further. A forecaster for MeteoGroup said: “There will be very little change over the next few days and we can’t see an end to the snowy weather yet. Temperatures will stay mostly below zero during the day, falling to between minus four degrees and minus seven degrees overnight. Snow showers are going to become less frequent, but by Saturday the easterly wind will become stronger and it will become bitterly cold”

Yorkshire Ambulance Service is still running a reduced Patient Transport Service today, operating only for patients with urgent medical needs. It expects to resume a full service tomorrow if conditions improve.

Meanwhile, healthcare workers in York and North Yorkshire have praised local people for their support after one farmer gave a district nurse a lift to one of her house calls on his tractor.


Useful links

Latest traffic and travel information
Up-to-date travel information for York, North and East Yorkshire, including the latest on the roads, and public transport.

School closures
Details of school closures in York, North Yorkshire and East Riding.

City of York Council's gritting information
Including details of which roads and footpaths are gritted, and the location of salt bins in York.

The Met Office Severe Weather Warnings
Details of severe weather warnings issued for the Yorkshire and Humberside area, plus advice on what to do during periods of snow and ice.

Share your snow pictures

If you have taken any pictures of the snow that you wish to share, please email them to web.admin@thepress.co.uk, alternatively, send your mobile phone pictures to 80360 starting your message with the keyword YORK.