The coldest temperatures and the heaviest snowfalls for thirty years turned Ross into an isolated, frozen wasteland last week. Gritters and snow ploughs managed to clear main routes but even as we went to press on Tuesday, January 12th, footpaths and side roads were still heavily iced and impassable for many vehicles and pedestrians.

Cars which had been parked in side roads last Monday, January 4th, were still in the same place the following Monday.

Food shops in Ross had a bonanza day on Saturday, January 9th, queues in Morrisons were stretching back through all the aisles as people bought food preparing for a big freeze.

Shelves were empty of salt and there were no crumpets and very little meat, no mince at all as this versatile base for so many warming dishes had been snapped up. Shoppers had also blitzed quantities of soup, bread, potatoes and milk.

However many children, and a few adults, made the most of the snow to get out and take part in traditional activities like sledging, snowball fights and making snowmen.