© UnknownThousands Of Homes Lose Power
Hundreds of schools were closed across Northern England and Scotland.
As much as 20cm of snow fell in the Durham Dales, and 17cm was recorded at Redesdale, Northumberland, with driving winds causing drifts on transpennine routes in what was the heaviest snowfall of the winter so fall.
Around 4,450 homes were without power in north-east Yorkshire and north Linclonshire by early evening.
David Gill, head of customer services at utility firm CE Electric, said: "All available field staff are working to respond to power disruptions and they won't down tools until the job is done."
More snow is expected on Friday, although the showers are forecast to be lighter.
Between Blackburn and Helmshore, Lancashire, the snow trapped 70 people in their vehicles.
They were then helped by soldiers from the B Company 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment in two 4x4 vehicles, as well as police and local authority staff.
Police in County Durham said roads were treacherous right across the force area, while transpennine routes were made hazardous by the drifting snow.
Schools closed across the North, with several hundred across Yorkshire alone shutting, more than 100 in Greater Manchester, 70 in Lancashire, 34 in Cumbria, 70 in County Durham and 33 in Northumberland.
MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said rain pushed the snow clouds away as the day progressed, but they were expected to return tomorrow.
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