Schools affected by icy weather

Drivers were urged to take care on icy roads

Dozens of schools in Cumbria and the North East of England remained closed on Thursday as temperatures again dropped below zero.

Up to 60,000 children were sent home from school as arctic conditions hit the North East on Wednesday.

Almost 50 schools remained closed to pupils on Thursday as the icy conditions persisted.

Worst hit were schools in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham and Cumbria.

Freezing road surfaces also prompted the cancellation of school bus services in rural areas in Cumbria, affecting hundreds of pupils.

Cancelled flights

Northumbria Police also warned drivers to take extra care on minor roads where overnight winds caused snow drifts 3ft deep in places.

Some roads in east Cleveland remained impassable - including the A174 between Whitby and Loftus, Boltby Bank and Grinkle Lane in East Cleveland, and the back road between Sadberge and Stockton.

Early morning flights from Teesside and Newcastle Airport's were also affected, with some cancellations.

But NEDL - who handle electricity supply across the North East - said they suffered no weather-related problems, and were no longer on emergency alert.