BITTERLY cold weather from the Arctic has swept across York, North and East Yorkshire, preceded yesterday by a heavy burst of snow in towns such as Easingwold and Malton.

Blizzard conditions at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate failed to prevent a military graduation parade taking place yesterday to celebrate junior soldiers achieving the college’s best set of exam results.

Weathermen say temperatures will barely rise above freezing for the next few days.

Minimum temperatures will be as low as minus 5C.

A band of light snow is also forecast to cross our region tomorrow night.