HEAVY snow carpeted the region today, lending a picture-book aspect to town and country.

Yet snow brings its problems too, especially for motorists. Despite this snowy spell having been accurately forecast, the roads in York were treacherous this morning.

If the gritters had been out, they didn't appear to have done a very good job. Motorists deserve better than this - one overnight fall of snow should not be enough to turn our roads into a dodgem rink.

Updated: 10:24 Monday, February 21, 2005