Motorists stranded on A1 and Newcastle Airport flights delayed as amber snow warning hits North East

From the very start of the day motorists travelling home from work or to work have faced severe travel disruption after heavy snow hit the A1 motorway.

Motorists have abandoned their cars on the A1 and flights at Newcastle Airport have been delayed as the North East has been hit by heavy snowfall.

An amber snow warning for much of the region was put in place at 9pm on Saturday (4 January) and will last throughout Sunday (5 January) into the evening.

ITV Tyne Tees spoke to a taxi driver stuck on the A1M who had to drop his passengers off at Scotch Corner instead of East Midlands Airport.

He described the conditions as "severe" and said it had taken a very long time to try and get back home to South Shields.

Meanwhile residents in County Durham had to dig their cars out from their drive after the heavy snow.

Neighbours Andrew Matthews and Marion Barker were clearing their street next to a steep bank of snow to help other residents move their cars.

Traffic had previously stopped on the A1M in County Durham southbound between J61 Bowbburn and J60 Bishop Auckland due to stranded vehicles on the carriageway. It has now re-opened.

Newcastle Airport said on Sunday morning that they were experiencing "heavy and continuous snowfall" which caused delays to flights while the runway was cleared.

In an updated statement they said: "The runway is now fully cleared and we are working with our airline partners to return our flight schedule back to normal as quickly as possible."

The snow has not been as disruptive everywhere in the North East. A light dusting fell on Yarm on Teesside early on Sunday morning.

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