Snow: Don't let it bring us to a stop

Stay-at-home staff cost the recession-hit economy £690million as experts predicted the country’s economic output could drop £14.5billion by the end of the month.

And with the big freeze forecast to last until March, business leaders are urging workers to carry on regardless.

Politicians are demanding that people should help to clear snow and charities are calling for volunteers to help to look after the sick and care for the elderly.

Travellers are being told not to rely on the Army to rescue them. Instead, motoring organisations say drivers should take a shovel to dig themselves out of trouble.

Millions who are thinking of taking days off should follow the example set by courageous souls who battled on yesterday.

Hardy Sarah Hodgson, 28, showed the bulldog spirit by battling to work through waist-deep snowdrifts for almost 15 miles rather than let her boss down. She said: “People wondered why I didn’t just stay in bed but I’ve been brought up to always get to work if I can.”

Sarah got up at 5am then trekked for four hours from her home near Consett, County Durham, to Oldfield’s Restaurant in Durham City.

She added: “I tried to dig out my car but it was covered in snow.

“I couldn’t get hold of a taxi and the bus wouldn’t have got me in on time, so I decided I’d have to wa lk it.

“It was dark and freezing and I did wonder how long it was going to take, but then I just got moving.”

Tory MP and Daily Express columnist Ann Widdecombe last night urged people to show community spirit.

“I am snowed in at the moment but I have let people park their stranded cars in my garden,” she said. “People should get out there and help others, clear pavements and do whatever it takes. They have that spirit in the countryside but it is somewhat lacking in towns and cities.”

Her comments came after Keith Mitchell, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said people had developed a “dependency culture” and were always looking for someone to blame for the icy state of roads and streets.

He added: “What has happened to the British spirit that defeated Hitler and yet quails at a little snow?

“If every householder cleared the pavement in front of their home, we might regain some of the spirit that has kept us free for 1,000 years.

“But no. We have developed that dependency culture that someone up there is to blame and should be sorting out our problems for us.”

Age Concern has said it is concerned that older people will be unable to shop for food, while others will struggle to stay warm.

Andrew Harrop, the charity’s head of policy, said: “We urge people to keep the festive spirit alive by checking on friends, relatives and neighbours. A quick visit makes all the difference.”

The cost to the economy could be lessened if workers do all they can to carry on with their jobs.

Stephen Alambritis of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “If people can’t make it into work, then working from home is an option.”

Marc Charlton, of insurance company RSA, said: “In weather conditions such as these it’s imperative that businesses take extra precautions to help them continue trading.

“If their employees can log into their systems from home they will save a lot of aggravation and lost revenue.”