THE first snow of winter has fallen overnight in Ryedale and weather warnings are in place for North Yorkshire.

A smattering of snow has fallen overnight in York and drivers are being warned of icy conditions as the Met Office issued snow and ice yellow alerts for large areas of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland amid plummeting temperatures.

Andy from North Yorkshire Weather said: "Snow showers continue to feed in off the North Sea across the region this morning. Quick look across the road network shows it’s looking a bit slippy in places. Main problem this morning will be ice."

The national weather service has advised of the likelihood of people suffering slips and fall injuries in one of the first icy periods of the winter.

It is also advising of the chance of disruption to road, bus and rail networks – with ice patches forming on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

One yellow warning – covering areas in north-east England, the East Midlands, the east of England, Yorkshire and Humber and parts of Scotland – will be active from 5pm on Thursday until 11am on Friday.

Motoring organisation the RAC urged drivers to “ensure they’re winter ready as some get their first real taste of snow and ice”.