A PREGNANT woman and a mother with a three-year-old were among several stranded motorists who had to be rescued from the snow at one of the highest spots in Ryedale at the weekend.
And a 77-year-old man from Pickering, who failed to return from his daily afternoon walk, was lucky to be found alive after going missing for more than eight hours.
A major search was launched by the police and Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Res
cue Team who eventually found safe but cold on the edge of a field in a rural area on the outskirts of the town.
Now, with more snow and icy weather forecast into next week, the police are urging motorists to take precautions before venturing out.
Police, highways staff and local farmers battled for more than five hours on Saturday in what they described as potentially life threatening conditions to rescue the stranded motorists at Blakey Ridge, near Hutton-le-Hole.
A spokesman said it was about 2.20pm when the police received a number of calls from drivers who were stuck on the moors.
"Among the callers was a woman who was six months pregnant and another woman with a three-year-old child," he said.
PC Tony Call, of the Eastern Area Roads Policing Group, and PCs Andrew Marsden and Steve Leach, from Pickering, reached the scene despite severe weather causing extremely poor visibility, freezing temperatures and snow drifts of four to five feet.
"At points it was necessary for PC Leach to walk ahead of the 4x4 vehicle in which he and PC Marsden were travelling to guide the way.
"While PCs Marsden and Leach guided several people to safety at the Lion Inn public house on Blakey Ridge, TC Call stayed with a group of six 4x4 vehicles and occupants who had become stranded approximately three-quarters of a mile from the public house keeping them in one location."
Staff from the county council's highways department and farmers turned out using snow ploughs and tractors.
Later, one motorist contacted the Force Control Room to thank the oficers for rescuing him and the way they handled the situation.
The Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team, based at Snainton,were called out three times in 48 hours starting last Wednesday with the search for the Pickering man who was found in the early hours of Thursday.
Mr Crossley said: "Considering the severity of the weather and the gentleman's age he was very lucky indeed."
During the past week Ryedale Police received 34 calls from motorists about the state of the roads and accidents.
On Sunday two drivers, a man and woman, were treated at Malton Hospital after their cars collided in York Road, Malton. On Monday a BMW car driver was treated for minor injuries at the scene after his car skidded into a stationery Vauxhall car at Broughton. The deep snow affected many villages throughout Ryedale.
Hovingham School had to close on Monday because of the weather but yesterday it was joined by Amotherby Primary, Crayke Church of England Primary, Hertford Vale Church of England Primary Staxton, Langton Primary, Lealholm CP, Leavening Primary, Luttons Primary School, West Lutton, Pickering Infant and Nursery, Sherburn High, Sheriff Hutton Primary and Welburn Primary. School closures are posted onto the county council's website.
Ryedale Live cancelled a gig due this Friday after severe weather warnings were issued by the Met Office.
Organiser Rob Davies said: "In view of the rural location of Hovingham Village Hall, the difficulty travelling there, plus the limited off-road parking, we have very reluctantly made the decision to postpone the gig.''
