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About 100 vehicles have become stranded after heavy snowfall on the North York Moors.

Vehicles were left stuck on the A171 between Scarborough and Whitby and north of Whitby.

Gritters and snow ploughs were at the scene and police advised motorists to avoid the area.

Some of the drivers of the trapped vehicles told ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio York the cars were gradually being released from about 2000 GMT onwards.

Police have closed the A171 between the B1447 junction in Whitby and the A165 Coastal Road junction in Cloughton, near Scarborough.

The A169 was closed near Goathland but was later described as passable if drivers used "extreme caution".

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said snow was falling on roads which were already icy.

The first vehicles got into difficulty on the A171 at about 1400 GMT on Tuesday and by 1800 GMT more than 100 vehicles were stuck, she said.

"We've got police, highways officials, ploughs and gritters up there trying to make the road safe as quickly as possible so these people can get on with their journeys," she said.

All the affected drivers have remained with their vehicles and there were no reports of any injuries.

The Met Office warned that up to 15cm (6in) of snow was expected to fall on the North York Moors by midnight.