THE snow brought early morning chaos across Huddersfield with a spate of crashes, shut schools and motorways in virtual gridlock.
Main roads leading to the M62 were at a virtual standstill with traffic queuing to get on at Brighouse, Ainley Top and Outlane, causing delays of at least an hour.
Police had reports of a spate of crashes with cars skidding off roads, hitting walls and bridges.
Snow on high ground such as Scapegoat Hill settled around four inches deep. The local junior school was closed.
At least one high school – Salendine Nook High – was closed, while others such as Colne Valley remained open.
Deputy headteacher Peter Hirst said: “We regret to closing the school, but had to make a decision in terms of safety.
“There was already ice on the ground and snow fell on top it, making it dangerous.
“A number of members of staff rang in to say they were stuck in traffic or were unable to get their cars out from their drives and the decision was taken to close the school.”
Kirklees Council say the gritters were out overnight clearing the main roads and pavements.
Frank O’Dwyer, duty decision maker for the gritting department, said: “We saw the weather warning from the Met Office last night and saw that it could be below freezing so we went out and gritted the roads last night.
“We were out again at 5am this morning and again at 7.30am making sure the roads outside schools, car parks and the bus stations and stops were gritted.
“We also made sure the routes into the town centre were free of any problems and we are gritting the pavements where it is needed.
“The weather wasn’t as cold as it was predicted, but it was cold enough to still cause problems.”
Click here for photogallery of snow shots around Huddersfield.
The snow hit hard at around 6am – with calls to the police quickly following.
6.35am: Car hit a railway bridge in Slaithwaite.
7.08am: Two cars slammed into a wall on Kirkroyds Lane, New Mill, blocking the road.
7.10am: Black ice meant cars were having to turn around on Greenfield Road above Holmfirth near the Ford Inn.
7.28am: Three cars crashed on the same bend just 10 minutes apart on Moor Lane, Gomersal.
7.48: A car hit a lamp-post bringing it crashing down on Grange Lane, Flockton. The car ended up on its roof, but the woman driver managed to scramble free shocked but unhurt.
7.51am: A car overturned on Varley Road in Slaithwaite, but no-one was hurt.
8.03am: A 35-year-old pedestrian was slightly hurt in an accident with a car on Upperhead Row in Huddersfield town centre.
It is expected to remain cold and icy over the next two days with fog expected late tomorrow.
An Arctic blast is expected to make its way over Yorkshire through the day and into tomorrow.
More snow is due to fall.
Bookmaker Jack Pearson quotes 8/1 for a white Christmas in Huddersfield.
