THE BRITISH ISLES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 51, 2 March 1937, Page 9

THE BRITISH ISLES

SERVICES DISORGANISED

VEHICLES BURIED

(British Official Wireless.) (Received March 2, 11.10 a.m.) RUGBY, March 1. The British Isles were swept by a blizzard at the weekend, and in the Highlands of Scotland the severest I snowstorm for many years was experienced. . Huge drifts blocked the main roads on Saturday and snow fell steadily throughout yesterday. Many motor-cars, omnibuses, and other vehicles were marooned and the occupants had to seek shelter in neighbouring houses. In some cases the snow was so high that vehicles were completely covered and could not be found, and in one case an omnibus was abandoned in a snowdrift thirteen feet duep. Snow ploughs were necessary to clear certain sections of the railway line near Inverness. Elsewhere, owing to snowstorms, trains were seriously delayed, arrivals in Glasgow from London and the south being four and five hours late.

In the Lake district of England snow ploughs were in action to clear the roads, and in Yorkshire communications were greatly disorganised. The telephone service also suffered and the electric grid system serving certain villages in West Yorkshire was cut.

In North Wales electric supplies also failed, and in some of the towns affected church services were conducted by candlelight. Trees were uprooted by the storm in South Wales and western counties of England. . •. The weather was exceptionally wild in the Irish Sea, and shipping, including the Irish mail steamer, was blown off its course. Vessels were in distress at many other places round the English coasts. A land slip near Dover crashed on to part of the. Southern Railway, marine factory and did a considerable amount of damage. •