TEMPERATURES in Yorkshire fell to their coldest ever, as the wintry blast showed little sign of easing.

Readings at Topcliffe, near Thirsk, fell to minus 19C at about 9am yesterday, said MeteoGroup experts, making it the coldest place in England.

Parish council chairman Garry Key said: “There’s a really good community spirit here. People are supporting each other and going round checking on everyone.”

The region was today braced for more biting, sub-zero temperatures, as North Yorkshire entered another day of snow and ice disruption. A spokeswoman for MeteoGroup said things were not due to improve by much over the weekend, saying: “Temperatures will be well below zero even at the coast for the next few nights.

“Minus six is expected tonight but minus 10C wouldn’t surprise. Snow is expected overnight, which should clear by morning when there will be mist and patches of freezing fog.”

She said any rain would fall on frozen ground, making driving hazardous. The weather would brighten on Sunday, with more snow early next week.

Householders across the region awoke yesterday to temperatures well below zero. At 6am in York, the reading was minus 8.5C, while it dipped to minus 11.9C at Linton-on-Ouse, minus 17C at Tollerton and minus 19C at Topcliffe, said to be the lowest temperature ever recorded in Yorkshire. Temperatures in the region have reached minus 16.1C at Topcliffe and RAF Linton-on-Ouse dropped to minus 11.9C, while daytime temperatures for Friday struggled to reach zero.

Scores of schools were again closed yesterday, and North Yorkshire County Council mobilised Land Rovers to help get care to older or vulnerable people.

Derek Law, corporate director for the council’s adult and community services, said highways teams were working flat-out. He said: “Inevitably, as the bad weather continues, there will be some places which become less easily reached, particularly at higher levels.”

In York, secondary priority roads have been gritted but they will not be gritted again this weekend, and drivers are urged to take care. The city council has already used 2,400 tonnes of snow since November 1 – its entire stock for an average winter. The council has received 400 tonnes in the past three days and currently has 1,100 tonnes.

Refuse collectors whose rounds have been suspended due to the weather have been helping clear city centre pavements. Council JCBs are working on all Park&Ride sites, and cycle routes will be treated over the weekend. The Millennium Bridge will be treated with a separate non-corrosive material and salt bins will be refilled over the weekend.