WE ARE WEATHERING THE STORM, SNOW BOTHER!

Heavy overnight snow made life difficult for drivers in Sunderland yesterday.

And as weather experts warned the big freeze could last until the weekend.

The Met office has extended its yellow snow and ice warning across the North East until Saturday.

A Met Office statement online said: “Snow is likely to spread east with some accumulations in places and icy stretches with the potential for disruption to travel.”

Although the snow made conditions difficult on some roads – with gritting crews out in force – and led to some bin collections being disrupted in Sunderland

– it was a day of fun for thousands of youngsters who dug out their sledges. Age UK urged people to make extra checks on elderly friends and relatives and warned against travelling in treacherous conditions to receive Covid jabs. The charity’s director Caroline Abrahams said vaccination appointments were "not a one-off "chance.

People descend on Barnes Park in Sunderland yesterday morning to have fun in the snow. Picture by North News

More snow fell on Penshaw Monument yesterday as thrill-seekers make their way to the top.

Casper Wozniak, seven, has fun beneath Penshaw Monument.

Glen Williamson with son Alfie, five, having a brr-illiant time.