Freezing rain is causing havoc on roads throughout the North East and Cumbria this morning.

There have been over 60 reported accidents due to treacherous weather conditions in Cumbria this morning (THURS) alone.

Rainfall has frozen as it hits the road surfaces leaving many like an ice rink.

Northumbria Police reported a six-vehicle pile up involving five cars and a double decker bus at 8.21am this morning on the Felling Bypass near the Heworth Interchange in Gateshead.

Several people suffered minor injuries and a stretch of the road on the west-bound carriageway is currently shut.

A man was severely injured after getting out of his car following a multiple car crash in Blaydon, Gateshead.

After the accident at 6.44am, at the junction of Chainbridge Road, the man got out of his car and was struck by another vehicle and knocked over the road's barrier, falling some distance.

He was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary suffering what the police described as 'possible life threatening injuries'.

Many roads have been affected by ice with the A66 closed after a number of lorries jack-knifed near Stainmore.

The snow gates on the A66 on the County Durham-Cumbria border have been brought down as the road is gritted.

Cumbria Police warned of hazardous driving conditions on the A595 in Whicham Valley, between The Green and Silecroft.

There are long delays due to the closure of the A590 westbound from B5277 to B5271, in Cumbria.

One lane is closed and there is queueing traffic due to an accident on the M6 Northbound from J36 A590, Kirkby Lonsdale to J37 A684, in Kendal, Cumbria.

A Cumbria police spokeswoman warned drivers to take care: "Drivers are being urged to take care this morning on the county’s roads with hazardous conditions being caused by ice.

"Rain fall overnight and into this morning as caused thick ice on the county’s roads, with over 60 reported road traffic incidents so far.

"Police are urging drivers to slow down, drive with extreme care and, if possible, delay journeys.

"The A66 from Stainmore is closed due to the conditions and the M6 and A684 is currently extremely hazardous and only passable with extreme care.

"Local residents are asked to take care when walking on pavements, as these are just as susceptible to freezing."

Durham Police reported minor incidents due to freezing weather conditions in Esh Winning, the A690 at Rainton Gate, High Etherley, Broomfield, Hamsterley and Consett where a mother and child received minor injuries in a car crash.

Chief Inspector Sarah Pitt, of Northumbria Police's Operations Command, said: "Rain is falling but freezing as soon as it hits the road surface.

"This is leading to very icy conditions and we would advise motorists to drive slowly and be mindful of this, even on roads that have been gritted.

"All areas are potentially hazardous in these conditions. Drivers should moderate their speed, keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front as stopping distances are longer on wet and icy roads, and they should try not to brake sharply."