Coastguards were forced to send a Land Rover to take the casualty to Whitby Hospital, accompanied by the ambulance crew, late on Friday night in very low temperatures.

The ambulance had got stuck in deep snow drifts after attempting to help the woman.

Watch officer for Humber Coastguard, Alex Harrison, described conditions on the night as "atrocious"– and they did not get much better on the moors over the weekend.

The Whitby to Pickering road was closed for 24 hours from Saturday to Sunday and drivers were diverted through Goathland.

On Friday night, four people were stranded without money at Whitby after the Middlesbrough to Scarborough bus terminated at Whitby due to bad weather.

Police called the Salvation Army.

Major Marie Bate said: "One lady was stuck with a kitten in a basket, a couple and a Chinese student were all accommodated by The George Hotel. Manager Ivan Marazzi gave free rooms after we offered to pay."

Police gave stranded motorists lifts home and broken down vehicles were left abandoned.

On Saturday at 4.18pm, Pond Hill Road on the Whitby to Scarborough road was blocked and 20 vehicles were stuck in a tailback.

A farmer called police on Saturday to say he had run out of feed for 160 cows at Fryup Hall Farm. Police were unable to help but by the following day, conditions had improved enough to get feed through.

Nick West of North Yorkshire County Council highways said : "All credit to the sterling work of gritters working 24/7."

He said main roads are clear, although drifting snow is causing problems and there is a risk of ice.

Well-salted roads are taking time to clear, while salting is restricted to priority routes.

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