Snow returns to cause chaos on Yorkshire coastal road

Up to 400 motorists were caught in snow showers which blocked an exposed coastal road last night as coastguards were called in to help police free stranded vehicles, using rescue teams and 4x4s. The snow which made the driving conditions dangerous on the A171 between Whitby and Scarborough, north Yorkshire, also meant work for Scarborough mountain rescue team as wintry weather returned to the east coast. Some drivers left their cars and sought refuge in local villages. Drew Mahood, watch manager at Humber Coastguard, said: "Coastguards do not spend all of their time dealing with incidents on cliffs, at the beach or out to sea."