Wintry conditions did not deter surfers in Tynemouth

Three men had to be rescued from Scafell Pike in Cumbria early on Sunday after becoming trapped in snow drifts.

The North West Ambulance Service urged the public to only use 999 in an emergency, after two ambulances in Cumbria were trapped in heavy snow.

The A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner was blocked near Brough as 15 lorries were stuck overnight.

The stricken ambulances had to be freed by mountain rescue teams in the early hours of Sunday in Sedbergh near Kendal.

Communications manager Andrew Kirchin said: "We've not stopped working. We put that warning out simply because we're saying please only ring if it's an emergency."

High winds

Also in Cumbria, 11 members of the Wasdale Mountain Rescue team were called out at about 0400 GMT on Sunday, when they were alerted to three men trapped on Scafell Pike.

They were taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge and are now reported to be safe and well.

The A66 transpennine route was closed for a second night because of heavy snow. It was reopened at 0900 GMT.

Moderate snow has fallen on high-lying areas of County Durham, particularly the Consett area and the A68 route, police said.

High winds, which had damaged some buildings and brought down overhead power lines in Northumberland, eased overnight.

But the conditions were not severe enough to deter surfers, who gathered at Tynemouth beach on Sunday.