SNOWY scenes in the centre of Skipton today as the county woke to a white-out in many places.

Police reported attending around 20 crashes by lunchtime caused by the wintry conditions and the A59 was reported as blocked for a time between Skipton and Bolton Abbey and near West Marton when vehicles became stuck.

The Met Office forecasts light snow until around 9pm when the temperatures start to plummet to around minus 3 overnight with sub-zero temperatures due to last all day on Friday.

Yellow warnings for snow and ice have been issued and people are being urged to avoid travelling unless essential.

Driving and walking conditions could be hazardous on untreated roads and paths.

Some pictures here taken in Skipton this afternoon show an aptly named narrowboat - Chillin' Machine - and a few people braving the conditions, though by the look of the footprints in the snow there appears to have been quite a few people venturing out.

Conditions are slushy and slippery underfoot at the moment, but are expected to start to freeze later today.