A band of snow swept across Calderdale in the early hours, making some roads impassable.

A slight rise in temperature did cause some of the snow to turn to sleet just after 7am. It meant some areas, particularly in Halifax, were almost clear by mid morning.

Going into this evening, snow is still causing problems on higher ground from Huddersfield into Derbyshire but the M62 through Calderdale is now reported clear.

Schools closing included:

Halifax High

Hipperholme Grammar

Brighouse High

Lightcliffe Prep, Halifax

Special schools: Wood Bank, Ravenscliffe High, Highbury

Stubbings Infants School, Hebden Bridge

Calder High School, Mytholmroyd

The Maltings Independent School, Halifax

Fountain Head Day Nursery, Halifax

Russell Hall, Queensbury

Fox Hill, Queensbury

Shibden Head, Queensbury

Keelham Primary School,Queensbury.

Queensbury School

Shelf J and I

Old Town Primary, Hebden Bridge

Hebden Royd

Deanfield Primary, Ovenden

Ash Green Primary

Siddal Primary

St Malachy's Primary

Heptonstall Primary

Phoenix Centre

Wyke Children's Centre

Wyke Manor School

Worthinghead Primary, Wyke

Bailiffe Bridge

Calder High Year 13 Parents Evening is postponed and Wyke Library was due to be closed until 2pm

The yellow bus service to North Halifax Grammar School at Illingworth was also cancelled although the school said it was open as normal.

Drivers faced long tailbacks on the M62 this morning as blizzard conditions set in especially around Rishworth Moor and and some routes through hilltop villages such as Queensbury were blanketed by snow.

First Buses between Bradford and Halifax were told to keep away from estates and side roads and travel only on main routes this morning.

And there were no access buses running in Calderdale.

A severe weather warning has been issued for all of northern England.

Police said drivers should only make journeys if it was absolutely necessary and warned them to allow extra time.

Sergeant Garry Alderson, of Calderdale Road Traffic Police, said: "Drivers need to take extra care and make sure their vehicle is in a roadworthy condition. People should give extra time so they don't feel rushed which can cause them to make serious errors."

The Highways Agency added motorists should be prepared with an emergency pack of warm clothes, food, water and de-icer.

David Tee, Calderdale Council's highways manager, said the council's full fleet of gritters would be tending all major roads.

The snow was expected to ease later today and temperatures rise to around 5 degrees C.