A meteorologist today put York's snow no-show down to a one-mile exclusion zone caused by a weather front being blocked out by an area of low pressure.

And Nancy Williams, a weather spokeswoman, said other parts of the county were getting extra rations of the white stuff because York missed out.

She said: "A cold front came in bringing snow with it from the North West and as it came across the country it swivelled round an area of low pressure in the North Sea and moved southwards, missing York by about a mile."

The snow at Scarborough and Whitby was caused by snow showers coming in from a separate weather system hitting the east coast and the situation was similar last night with York again missing out.

Today north easterly winds will bring more snow showers, mainly to the east coast.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said Whitby and Scarborough were the worst hit areas but all main roads were passable with care.

Herbert Lealman, of Huttons Ambo post office, near Malton, said there was about an inch of snow on the roads but it was not causing major problems. Meanwhile dangerous icicles hanging from a railway bridge in Harrogate caused concern and were reported to Railtrack to be removed. More heavy snow showers blanketed north east and south west England and northern Scotland while the rest of the country faced a big freeze, which created treacherous driving conditions. AA Roadwatch warned motorists only to travel if it was absolutely necessary.

A weather centre spokeswoman said temperatures in the North Yorkshire area would remain around freezing for the next few days..