Communities in the South Lakes have helped come to the aid of hundreds of people stranded by heavy snowfall over the weekend.
On Saturday evening Cumbria police declared a major incident after the wintry conditions left about 200 vehicles stranded with people forced to find temporary accommodation.
In Ambleside, around 150 people were given shelter in the parish centre and St Mary’s church building, with local businesses rallying to provide hot food, drinks and bedding.
The Rev Andy Smith, team rector of the Loughrigg Benefice, said: “So many groups came together across Ambleside to support these people. It was lovely to see. At first, we had no idea how long people would need to be cared for but by 8pm it became clear that they would be with us overnight.
“The local bakery came forward to provide pasties and sausage rolls, there was soup made and pizzas provided too. We were caring for all ages, from a three-month-old baby and a child who was celebrating their 10th birthday through to a lady who had travelled up to be with family for her 60th birthday.
“It’s so important that, as a church, we were able to help out in this way, alongside everyone at the parish centre with whom we work so closely on a day-to-day basis.
“The church is there to look after people and to be at the centre of the community at times like this.”
Rydal Hall, the Diocese of Carlisle’s Christian retreat and conference centre and located just a few miles from Ambleside, provided 38 duvets and two cots which the Fire Service transported to the parish centre and church. Church members also came forward with sleeping bags and bedding.
In Hawkshead, a Christmas fayre had attracted lots of visitors along with the Grizedale Forest stages of a car rally, meaning scores of people were stranded due to the snow.
Twenty people sought shelter in St Michael’s and All Angels while 150 more bedded down in the local primary school and the Brownies and Guides hut provided shelter for 40.
The Rev John Dixon, vicar of Hawkshead, and his family put up 25 people in the vicarage, including 18 members of Milnthorpe Steel Band.
He said: “The whole community came together to care for these people. Sandwiches were provided and the local fish and chip shop put on meals for everyone. The church was a part of that community effort. I was wearing my dog collar as I walked around, and various people came up to me asking for help and advice.
“The heating was left on for the people sleeping in the church. Whilst they may not have had the most comfortable night everyone was very grateful for the help that had been offered up.”
At Rydal Hall, a further 48 people were provided with emergency overnight accommodation.
The Inn Collection Group, which runs several Lake District hotels, said it saw 120 rooms booked in two hours at nine of its venues on Saturday.
The Wateredge Inn also answered a call for help from Windermere Lake Cruises and offered up rooms for staff stranded at Waterhead Pier as the weather continued to close in.
Though all available bedrooms were booked by the early evening, The Angel Inn at Bowness offered its lounge for anyone left looking for shelter.
Around a dozen people took up the offer before the team, led by Sarah McIntosh, was able to offer up two rooms left vacant by guests unable to make the inn and source rooms with other operators for the rest.
Making sure no one was overnighting in stuck vehicles, a final sweep of the top end of town was undertaken before The Angel Inn was able to close at 2:30am.
General manager of The Angel Inn, Sarah McIntosh, said: “Saturday was one of those moments when communities like the Lake District come together and with our position as an inn, it was important to us that we stepped up where we were needed to help.
“With the nearest official refuge up in Windermere, those conditions needed those of us in Bowness to come together and all the hospitality businesses combined to make sure people were safe and looked after.”
