Route is cleared after snow chaos

Firefighters battled to free a stranded bus on the A1079

One man died and dozens of drivers were stranded for hours in snowdrifts on roads in East Yorkshire on Friday.

The 46-year-old Driffield man died on the A614 near Londesborough when his van collided with a lorry in what police said were appalling conditions.

About 50 lorries and cars had been stuck at nearby Arras Hill on the A1079 York to Hull road at Market Weighton.

By early-afternoon the route had been cleared of trapped vehicles and snow ploughs kept the road open.

Completely buried

Humberside Fire Service said crews had been working to clear the road which was blocked by snow blown from fields.

Fire service spokesman Nick Grainger said the drifts had been so deep in places some cars were completely buried.

Some drivers had been prepared for bad weather and were equipped with blankets and flasks of hot drinks.

Others were being provided with tea by police officers in 4x4 vehicles.

Meanwhile, about 20 vehicles were stuck on the snow-blocked A157 at Welton Le Wold near Louth in the Lincolnshire Wolds.

Sheet ice

A snow plough and the emergency services were sent out to help those stranded.

In West Yorkshire, drivers had been urged not to use the M1 near Leeds after a spate of accidents caused by sheet ice.

West Yorkshire Police reported five accidents between junctions 43 with the M621 and 48 with the A1.

They advised motorists not to use the M1 between the M62 and the A1(M) on Friday morning.