True Gritmas: Having a cracking time despite weather

Millions carried on with festive arrangements despite warnings that one of the coldest winters in a century would bring travel chaos.

The AA forecast that more than 18 million vehicles would be taking to the roads, while up to a quarter of rail services have been cancelled or altered due to the conditions.

And despite an improvement in conditions, flights at Heathrow and other airports are still severely affected by the weather, causing disruption for people hoping to head abroad or waiting for relatives to fly in.

Forecasters have also warned of a vicious sting in the tail of the bitter weather, with icy conditions continuing until after the weekend. 

For those who are working over the festive period, including the emergency services, there was praise for their efforts to keep the country moving.

Tory MP Philip Davies said: “One of the great things about the British spirit is that people pull together.

“They help one another and carry on working, whether it’s the postman or policeman making sure the work gets done. People are amazingly resilient in this country and won’t let this weather cancel Christmas.”

Former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe, whose performances in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing show captured the nation’s hearts, has been snowed in at her home on the Devon moors. 

She told the Daily Express last night: “The snow brings out the best as well as the worst in people. Everyone is helping each other and determined to have as good as time as possible.

“I hope my own friends and family are able to get to me, but if they can’t I shall just get on with it. At least I’ve finished my Christmas shopping.”

Police and other emergency service workers will be out in force this weekend, while the AA said 450 patrols would be on call on Christmas Day. 

Psychologist Cary Cooper said people were prepared to endure the “journey to hell” because seeing our loved ones was a “primal need”. 

Prof Cooper, of Lancaster University, added: “It’s essential for people to feel connected and that’s just what Christmas does – it allows us to invest in relationships with people we care for.

“Modern life is so mobile, and many people have moved away from their families for work and other reasons that we can feel anonymous. People are prepared to put up with hellish journeys because seeing people we care for makes us feel happy.”

Even those unable to attend festivities or travel to see relatives have been stocking up on food and drink to enjoy the holiday at home. 

While supermarkets enjoyed the year’s biggest shopping day – estimated to be twice as busy as a normal Saturday – local shops also saw a spike in sales. Costcutter, which has more than 1,550 stores, said it had seen a big rise in the sales of champagne, wine and snacks as people who could not reach supermarkets went to their local shop instead. 

Tesco is stocking turkey crowns at its Express stores and garage forecourt shops in case shoppers cannot get to supermarkets. 

Away from celebrations, the perilous conditions will also fail to prevent millions from working on Christmas Day. 

The Royal College of Nursing estimated hundreds of thousands of nurses will be on shift over the holiday. 

Chest ward nurse Tom Gash walked nearly nine miles in a blizzard just to work his shift, trekking from his village on Anglesey to Dolgellau after the roads were snowed under. 

And there have been many examples of local heroes helping others less fortunate than themselves during the cold snap. 

Jordan Nugent, 12, who successfully campaigned to have a salt bin installed in his road in Abbeydale, Gloucester, after last winter’s snow, said: “I’ve been out knocking on people’s doors to see if they need any help.

“I’ve been shovelling grit on to the paths and I helped a lady to clear her car of snow.”

Those who fear being snowed in can take heart from staff at the Tan Hall Inn, Britain’s highest pub at 1,732ft above sea level on the Yorkshire Dales.

Regularly snowed in during the winter months, it was cut off for nine days by 9ft snowdrifts earlier this month. 

Manageress Sarah Hall said: “We rediscovered the lost art of conversation. It was amazing how much we talked and didn’t argue once.”

Weathermen are warning that Britain is heading for a deep frozen Christmas Day, with the prospect of snow showers in the East and a strong chance of snow in the west on Boxing Day.

Met Office forecaster Barry Gromett said: “Very few places will see a white Christmas.

“Late on Boxing Day or on the morning of the 27th we have clouds that have the potential to bring more snow or sleet.

“They travel from west to east and are likely to bring rain, sleet and snow, or a mixture of the three.”

Temperatures for the rest of the Christmas week and up to New Year are likely to be below average, but higher than in recent days.

Northern Ireland broke its record for the coldest temperature for the second time in a week on Thursday night, with temperatures of -18.6C in Co Tyrone.

Additional reporting by Greg Swift