North Yorkshire was worst-hit with 3,000 homes blacked out. Some 2,500 houses were affected in East Yorkshire and 1,300 in northern Lincolnshire.

Power firm YEDL said engineers would work overnight to restore supplies.

The power cuts came as the Met Office issued a severe weather warning for the region, with temperatures down to -3C.

"We've been hit by blizzard conditions," said YEDL spokeswoman Ann Walker.

"Our engineers will work round the clock as long as it is safe to do so."

Vehicles abandoned

The strong winds and snow brought hazardous conditions for motorists, particularly in the Driffield area of East Yorkshire.

Police urged drivers to avoid the A166 between Fridaythorpe and Garrowby Hill which was blocked both ways by heavy snow.

Several vehicles had been abandoned there after a lorry jack-knifed.

There were also bad driving conditions on the A164 Market Weighton to Driffield road and the B1249 Driffield to Scarborough road.

Blizzard conditions were reported in the Bridlington area late on Friday afternoon and gritters were out on the roads.

Meanwhile, firefighters were called out to deal with damage to properties across northern Lincolnshire amid gale force winds.