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.

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."