Rescue crews welcomed as they bring vital supplies to stranded town and villages

Driving conditions in parts of the rural north and east of the county remained treacherous with drifting snow causing huge problems in places yesterday.

Gusts of 105mph were recorded at Great Dun Fell, east of Penrith.

The area surrounding Brampton was one of the worst affected, with lorry drivers and train passengers among those becoming stranded.

More than 100 schools across the county remained closed.

Thousands of homes were without power for at least part of the day as the conditions knocked out supplies to about 18,000 properties.

Some of the most dramatic scenes unfolded yesterday as a rescue mission was launched to reach elderly residents in Alston and the nearby villages of Nenthead and Garrigill to deliver essential food and medical supplies.

Bay Search and Rescue were drafted in to assist a team of local residents who were determined to help the more vulnerable members of their community.

More than 20 volunteers - led by Claire Driver, the area’s county councillor, and Abi Collins, team manager at the Co-op - were out on foot delivering parcels from their base at the local fire station.

Meanwhile Bay Search and Rescue, who brought a delivery of bread, milk, eggs and other essential food supplies to the town, deployed their Haglunds (corr) to get vital supplies out to those in the hardest to reach places.

Gary Parsons, station officer and founder of Bay Search and Rescue, said: “[The Haglunds] are absolutely crucial. They are the only vehicle which can travel on top of the snow not drive through it.

“This is the only way to get to them.”

The remote town had been cut off since the Beast from the East arrived on Wednesday.

Cumbria County Council’s Highways team worked to clear the road to ensure the emergency food drop could be made.

There were cheers on the streets as the rescue trucks, 4x4s and a coal wagon reached the town.

Karl Melville, Cumbria Highways’ senior manager for operations, said: “This is unprecedented. We have had bad weather but not to the intensity we have had the last three or four days.

“Our crews have been working flat out since last Friday in preparation and we have been running a 24 hour service since then. We have had fantastic results.

“Bay Search and Rescue, which is a voluntary organisation, have stepped up to help us. Without their help we could not have delivered the supplies to vulnerable residents whose medication is about to, or already has, run out.”

By 2pm Abi, Claire and the team, which involved a number of staff members from Robin Wood outdoor centre, had made more than 30 deliveries in Alston and 10 more in Nenthead - in some cases shovelling snow to reach people’s front doors.

Game keepers and farmers helped transport the volunteers.

“People haven’t been out of their houses since the snow started and they are happy to say hello to people,” said Claire.

“The weather conditions are something else. There are people buried in 3-4ft drifts and can’t get out their homes.

“It’s just amazing how much the community can pull together when they need to. There’s not one person that hasn’t said no.”

Alston residents Pauline and David Jackson were among those who spent the day lending a hand.

“People we’re delivering to have been absolutely thrilled,” said Pauline. “We have had no heating and a gas man walked through a blizzard to get out heating on. People are just going out of their way to help each other.”

Seeing the trucks arrive she said was “amazing” as the shops were running low on supplies.

Florence Reed, 63, who lives a mile from Alston, also volunteered. Her job was to collect the prescriptions from the hospital and take them to the base ready for the Haglunds to deliver.

“It feels absolutely brilliant and the community support has been fabulous. Everybody has just come and given what they can,” she said.

She has lived in the area all her life and while they’re used to harsh conditions she said this is as bad as it gets.

“I know how bad conditions can get but this has certainly been the worst for many years. The windchill factor has just been awful.”

At the Cumberland Inn, owner Helen Harker said it was a relief to see the rescue vehicles.

Two days ago the hotel took in a stranded doctor who couldn’t get home to Bardon Mill and yesterday morning (fri) a French lorry driver was rescued after being stranded at Yad Moss (corr) for three days.

Helen was overwhelmed to see the efforts of her community.

She said: “It makes me want to cry. It’s such a good thing.”

Meanwhile to pub has seen a boom in business with people taking refuge from the cold.

“We have been heaving,” she said. “People who can’t get food to feed themselves are coming out. But our stocks will dwindle if we don’t get a delivery soon.”

For the first time in 15 years Pioneer was unable to make their delivery to the hotel on Friday and the brewery have also been unable to get to Alston.