VOTE: Travel woe caused for commuters by heavy snowfalls

Commuters faced cancellations to a number of rail services to London and police warned drivers not to venture out in icy conditions unless it was absolutely necessary.

There appeared little respite from the conditions as snow continued yesterday morning, causing major disruption to businesses and public services '“ including ambulances '“ which because of the weather are responding only to major emergencies.

Concerns were raised for shoppers braving the arctic conditions as icy surfaces proved hazardous amid the coldest weather witnessed for decades.

Bognor Regis Observer employee Rose Peach highlighted the treacherous conditions.

She said: "I had a journey of an hour and 20 minutes to reach the office from Bosham and conditions on the roads are lethal.

"I've already had to rescue one old man from the road who couldn't cross because of the conditions. There has been no sign of anyone gritting the town centre and there will be a lot of walking wounded round here as people are sliding around all over the place."

An Arun District Council spokesperson apologised for cancelled refuse collections and explained the council's contractors, ISS Waterers, were working with West Sussex County Council to help grit the town centres and pedestrian areas.

The icy-spell has resulted in refuse collection for Westergate, Yapton and Slindon being cancelled, council public meetings cancelled and the town's tourist information centre closing.

But while many struggled to return to work, children in Bognor were celebrating the winter wonderland. They swapped schoolbooks for snowballs as the coldest weather since the early 1980s gave them a rare glimpse of snowy conditions.

Pagham-based teacher Margaret Sherwood was just one of many who were forced to stay at home. She said: "This is really quite a rare thing for this area.

"I woke up this morning and realised I wasn't going to be able to drive anywhere. I turned on the radio and within half an hour they had confirmed that all the schools in the area are shut.

"It's an exciting time for children though '“ there are quite a few in the village here playing in the snow, which they don't get to see very often."

Supt Steve Barry, head of Sussex Police's Road Policing Unit, advised people to keep warm and safe and to be aware of more vulnerable members of the community.

He said: "The potential is for extremely treacherous driving conditions and I would ask anyone who is thinking of driving to seriously consider whether they need to make their journey.

"At the best, your journey could be long and stressful, at the worst you could find yourself involved in an incident that may or may not be of your making."

And with temperatures struggling to rise above freezing, a number of residents have expressed concern over the cost of heating.

MP Nick Gibb has taken up the cause of pensioners who raised the issue of cold weather payments not being issued.

Mr Gibb said: "It would be hugely concerning if, after two weeks of freezing weather, the cold weather payments to pensioners were not being made.

"There are very many people in this area for whom this severe weather is a cause of huge worry over heating bills. I am pleased, however, that as of today (Tuesday) the Department of Work and Pensions have confirmed that cold weather payments will be made in Bognor Regis."

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