Snow blankets parts of North East at start of cold snap set to continue through the weekend

The Northumberland countryside was under a blanket of snow on Thursday morning as a cold snap set in across the UK

A blanket of snow has covered some parts of the North East as temperatures dropped at the start of a cold snap which is set to continue through the weekend.

Five days of snow warnings issued for most of UK as nation braces for cold spell

It has brought picturesque scenes, turning some parts of the region, like Allenheads in Northumberland, and Cowshill in Weardale, into a wintry wonderland.

The early morning sun over Cowhills in Weardale, one of the places in the North East where residents woke up to a blanket of snow. Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

The snow comes at the start of a cold snap hitting much of the UK, with temperatures set to stay close to or below freezing for the next few days.

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice is in force for much of the North East, apart from coastal areas, from midday until Saturday until the end of Sunday.

Snow covers the rooftops and trees in Allenheads in Northumberland. Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “At the moment we’ve issued a very large snow warning, but it doesn’t mean that everywhere within that warning could see snow, it’s just a heads-up there could be some impacts.”

Meanwhile separately, the UK Health Security Agency has issued cold weather health alerts for all of England.

The hills around Cowhills in Weardale covered by snow. Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

Amber alerts are now in force until 8 January, meaning a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, is likely.

Further south in North Yorkshire, some places are under water as rivers burst their banks with levels set to continue to rise throughout Thursday.

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