100 vehicles trapped in Shepton Mallet snow

About 100 vehicles were trapped on Shepton Mallet's roads in the heavy snow fall on Tuesday evening.
One lorry jacknifed on Doulting Hill and cars were abandoned on the same road and on Long Hill when the snow storm hit during the rush hour.
Rain had fallen earlier in the afternoon, during which gritters could not operate as the salt and grit would be washed away. This then froze and was covered by a layer of snow creating treacherous conditions for motorists trying to get home.
Graham Brown, station commander at Shepton Mallet Fire Station, said he and his colleagues spent about four hours helping people turn round and get mobile again.
"Cars were bumper to bumper, stuck, down Long Hill. We had a fire engine but most of our work was done on foot," he said.
"We were helping people to turn their cars round and giving them advice. We were telling them that they would not make the hill and should turn back rather than get trapped.
"There were lone females and families caught up in it and we just wanted to help them get mobile."
Mr Brown said that the priority was to clear the road because once it was blocked with vehicles the gritters could not do their work.
Some heavy goods vehicles which had become stuck stayed where they were overnight as the drivers were able to keep warm and sleep in their cabs.
By 1am, however, most vehicles had been collected and the roads were clear again.
Mr Brown, who is also clerk to Shepton Mallet Town Council, said that the roads today are much improved.
"We have continued with our limited resource to treat limited areas as reported or considered higher priority," he said.
"The town centre has been done again and tomorrow (Thursday), subject to no other priority coming forward, we are doing pavements around both doctors' surgeries and The Batch/Peter Street and into Leg Square."