Roads affected by heavy snowfall

The heavy snow is set to continue and could drift in high winds

Heavy snow has caused problems on roads and closed more than 200 schools across Cumbria and the north-east of England.

Police said several lorries were stranded on the A69 near Cumbria after failing to negotiate Greenhead Bank, causing huge tailbacks to Haltwhistle.

A major trans-Pennine route, the A66, is closed eastbound between the A1 at Scotch Corner and the A685 at the Cumbrian border.

Schools, including 125 in Cumbria, have been forced to close.

Sixty-three schools have shut in County Durham and 54 in Northumberland.

There has been some disruption to flights at Newcastle Airport, which received three diverted aircraft originally bound for Heathrow.

Durham Tees Valley Airport near Darlington reported some cancellations, mainly involving services to Amsterdam.

Snow also caused the closure of the A182 Washington Highway, near Sunderland, with a number of cars being abandoned.

Multiple accidents

Northumbria Police has requested that gritters attend the scene.

Cumbria County Council said that intensive gritting was taking place around Alston, with the A686 and A689 being treated continuously.

The A66 was likely to remain closed throughout Monday, according to a Durham Police spokesman.

He added that there had been 22 reported accidents across the force area, but none had resulted in any serious injury.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: "We have had multiple accidents all over the county.

"There have been a lot of bumps and scratches and very slow journeys into work."

Snowfalls are expected to continue, with as much as 1ft (20-30cm) expected over high ground, drifting in strong winds.

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