MUCH of Cumbria has been put under a Met Office snow and ice warning as sub-zero temperatures triggered a spate of minor accidents.

Cumbria Police says that it yesterday fielded a flood of calls about cars skidding on icy minor roads.

Many of the roads involved were not gritted.

The force today reminded people that they should be making "essential journeys only" under the county's current Covid-19 Tier 4 rules.

Roads that are at higher altitudes are being severely affected by the icy conditions, they warn.

Parts of the A66 - including at Stainmore - are particularly challenging just now, according to the most recent reports.

In a Facebook post, Cumbria Police also urged motorists to avoid the county's mountain passes, saying: "Please could we ask that you do not use the mountain passes as you are putting yourself and other road users and emergency services at risk."

According to Cumbria County Council, the temperature this morning at Kirkstone Pass on the A592 - linking Hartsop and Troutbeck - is currently -3C. At Hartside, on the A686, the temperature this morning was recorded as -3.3C.

There was a covering of snow.

On the A69 near Brampton, the County Council's weather station recorded a temperature of just below -2C while on the A591 at Keswick the temperature was -1.1C. Conditions were also challenging at Shap, on the A6, where just before 11am today the temperature was -1.8C.

In its latest advice, the Met Office has warned that scattered snow showers across the north may make travel difficult in some places.

Its current weather warning covers virtually all of Cumbria, though not the county's coastal areas. In a statement, the Met Office adds: "Southward-moving areas of sleet and snow are likely to give 2-5cm snow over higher ground above 200-300m whilst at lower levels snow accumulations will be smaller and patchier in nature with 1-2cm snow for some.

"Where snow falls, expect slippery pavements and tricky driving conditions."

The rules for travel in Tier 4 areas as as follows:

You must not leave your home unless you have a reasonable excuse (for example, for work or education purposes).

If you do need to travel you should stay local – meaning avoiding travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live – and look to reduce the number of journeys you make overall. The list of reasons you can leave your home and area include, but are not limited to:

* work, where you cannot work from home

* accessing education and for caring responsibilities

* visiting those in your support bubble – or your childcare bubble for childcare

* visiting hospital, GP and other medical appointments or visits where you have had an accident or are concerned about your health

* buying goods or services from premises that are open in Tier 4 areas, including essential retail, but these should be within your local area wherever possible

* outdoor recreation or exercise. This should be done locally wherever possible, but you can travel a short distance within your Tier 4 area to do so if necessary (for example, to access an open space)

* attending the care and exercise of an animal, or veterinary services.

For more information, go to www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-4-stay-at-home