More than 200 motorists had to be rescued from what has been described, just yesterday, as a "mild winter" in Britain when their vehicles were trapped in a massive snowfall.
An emergency operation to rescue more than 200 motorists trapped in their cars by heavy snow swung into operation last night.
Around 45 pensioners and 15 schoolchildren were among those stranded on the A66 in County Durham as blizzards blocked roads and brought travel chaos.
Between two and five inches of snow fell in some parts of Northern England and Scotland.
One driver, George Harvey, 45, from Middlesbrough, said: "The road was clear one second and then white the next. It came in so fast, I've never seen anything like it.
"My car was sliding around and the wheels were just spinning. I thought I might be stuck there all night."
Many of those rescued from the A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner were taken to nearby villages by police.
Simon Wilson, 49, of The Castle Hotel in Brough, Cumbria, said 45 pensioners on their way back to the North East from Blackpool were brought to his premises.
"Some of them were really scared and disorientated when they came in – it was really worrying," he added.
"They congregated in the bar and once they had all had a cup of tea or a whisky, they settled down. After a couple of hours another bus came and took them onwards."
Sue Henley, 54, of Bowes, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, helped many bedraggled motorists in the village hall.
"It's the worst snow I have seen in many years," she said. "Motorists started arriving at the hall on foot. They were cold, wet and miserable.
"The hall has heating, but is not equipped to provide sleeping accommodation. The villagers are rallying round, but it's going to be a massive operation."
They are also having to rescue folks off of sinking ships as the article notes. It has already been a rough winter and it is only February 1st.
I’ve mentioned this book before “Fallen Angels” written in 1992, don’t remember the name of the authors there were three, the first could be Pourteney(?)(I sent my copy in a care package to a soldier last year)
For something written way before Al Gore came along it really captures the upsurdity of believing in Environmentalism.
It would make for a really good block-buster movie but I don’t think Hollywood wants to attract any attention to any subject which does not fulfill their narrative.