THE first blast of winter 2016 has hit the Bradford district with snow covering most areas.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning of snow and ice for Yorkshire and the Humber.

The district woke to a blanket of snow after falls started late yesterday afternoon and continued into the night but all of the main roads were passable.

For many it meant a Sunday of snow-related pursuits with snowmen appeared in gardens and backyards and sledging taking place on various hillsides.   

But one shop owner's attempt to make a snowman turned into something more spectacular.

Ayub Bismillah, 31, who owns Bismillah Novelty Gift Centre in Lidget Green took about two and a half hours to build this snowy masterpiece.

He said: “You’re never too old to play with a bit of snow.

"We started it just before 10pm on Saturday and were still going well after midnight.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

The snow mosque created outside Bismillah Novelty Gift Centre in Lidget Green, Bradford

"We started off building a snowman but then our imaginations just ran away with us and we turned it into a mosque.

"It’s not modelled on anywhere in particular – it’s just from our heads.”

Mr Bismillah said the photos on his Facebook have got more than 300 likes so far.

“Someone has even described it as a work of art,” he said.

As for travel, Northern Rail reported no weather-related train cancellations on any of its services affecting the district but it is running a replacement bus service between Leeds and Brighouse due to engineering works.

Northern Rail services between York and Blackpool North were today diverted via Brighouse, and not calling at New Pudsey, Bradford Interchange or Halifax. A replacement bus service will operate between Leeds and Brighouse, calling at the affected stations.

First has also not reported any disruptions to its bus services in and around Bradford.

But Transdev Keighley tweeted last night that all of its local services within Keighley were suspended due to buses being stuck in snow and poor road conditions.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Click the picture above to see a gallery of snow pictures

This morning it announced its 697 service was operating via Manywells to and from Cullingworth, but not serving Hill Top or James Street.

Its 703 service is omitting Coronation Way. Its 710 service is terminating at Braithwaite Avenue. 

But the 665 and 717 Brontebus is operating its normal service line.