Hundreds stranded in snow

HUNDREDS of people were left stranded today after more than four feet of snow paralysed a road into Suffolk.

The giant snowdrift blocked the A1307 at Horseheath, Cambridgeshire, in both directions from around 1am today, leaving more than 200 vehicles marooned.

Emergency services struggled throughout the morning to extricate the vehicles but expected the road was not expected to be opened until around 3pm.

An ambulance and a mini bus, thought to have 54 children on board, were among the vehicles trapped in the snow.

The Old Red Lion public house and hotel, which is situated off the A1307, was inundated with people requesting hot drinks, toast and sandwiches as people sought refuge in warm surroundings.

Pub manager Jason O'Rourke said his staff had been rushed off their feet.

He said: "It's been absolutely crazy. There are cars, mini buses and lorries all stuck for as far as you can see.

"We've got two big log fires and the paramedics asked if people could come in to get warm and we were happy to help.

"Everyone has been keeping their spirits up. The emergency services are keeping everyone informed which I think helps. Everyone can see what the problem is and so there is not really any point in them moaning."

Elsewhere, the severe weather and poor driving conditions caused chaos for the East Anglian Ambulance Service.

Dr Chris Carney, chief executive of the service, said they were experiencing difficulties in reaching 999 callers and had moved vehicles with 4x4 capabilities to the worst affected areas. The East Anglian Air Ambulance was also operating in the Cambridgeshire area, which is worst affected.

Yesterday the ambulance service attended 62 road accidents in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and took 400 emergency calls in total in the day.