Arctic conditions create a winter wonderland (From Gazette & Herald)

Arctic conditions create a winter wonderland

RYEDALE was in the grip of Artic conditions last week when forecasts of heavy snow and icy roads became a reality.

While nearly all roads and lanes were open, many were only passable with care, said police, who warned motorists to make only essential journeys.

North Yorkshire Police spokesman Tony Lidgate said: "If people had to use their cars, then our advice was to take extra care even at the risk of being late for an appointment."

Northern Ryedale and the Wolds area were the hardest hit and many motorists had difficulty in reaching main roads despite county highway gritting lorries and snow ploughs working overtime.

Some six inches of snow fell on the North York Moors and temperatures plummeted to -8C.

Police said there had been a number of minor road accidents in the Ryedale area, but no one had been hurt.

A lorry jack-knifed at Staxton resulting in the A64 road being closed on Friday for three hours.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue firefighters were equipped with snow chains and other equipment to tackle the conditions. The A171 Whitby to Guisborough road was closed at Birk Brow after police said the steep hill was too dangerous and another blackspot was at Scaling Dam.

A spokesman for the county council's highways department said: "Fortunately, there was no wind so we have not had to deal with drifting snow but conditions were still difficult. Roads are salted on a priority basis and in line with weather forecasts."

In East Yorkshire, a van driver was killed and up to 50 vehicles became stuck in treacherous conditions.

The driver of the van was fatally injured in a smash with a heavy goods vehicle on the A614, two miles north of Lonsborough, near Market Weighton, at 6.20am on Friday.

Two hours later, up to 50 cars and lorries became stuck in severe snow drifts at nearby Arras Hill on the A1079.

Firefighters and police vehicles worked in the area to try to free trapped vehicles.

Insp Steve Page, of Humberside Police, said: "We set out with 4x4 vehicles and were supplying hot drinks to drivers stuck at that location.

"All the small cars were removed by 10am but there were about 30 to 50 heavy goods vehicles which could not get up or down the hill. One of the stuck vehicles was a bus."

Police asked local farmers to help the effort by clearing the areas around their land.

The wintry conditions failed to deter those at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, however, who still managed to keep steam trains travelling between Pickering and Grosmont.

But while the festive season turned into a nightmare for motorists, it proved a delight for youngsters who were able to spend their school holidays tobogganing on hillsides throughout Ryedale.

Updated: 11:11 Wednesday, January 04, 2006