Ice misery continues as drivers slide to work

HELP at hand . . . Oldham Mountain Rescue Team assist paramedics in Stoneswood Road, Delph, yesterday. Picture by Evening Chronicle reader Geoff Bailey

MOTORISTS faced another day of misery as plummeting temperatures transformed the borough’s roads into treacherous ice rinks.

Temperatures dropped to -8.1C last night causing snow that fell over the weekend to freeze over.

Oldham had around 10cm (4in) of snow on Saturday and Sunday with temperatures plunging to -8.7C — the coldest since December, 1995.

Motorists were forced to abandon their cars and the emergency services saw a stark rise in the number of call-outs as Oldhamers struggled to cope with the extreme conditions.

Oldham Mountain Rescue Team dealt with around 30 incidents over the weekend including 13 yesterday.

Most of the call-outs involved assisting ambulances that couldn’t reach their destination.

The team were called to Stoneswood Road in Delph at around 11am yesterday to help a team of paramedics who had got stranded in treacherous conditions.

Chronicle weatherman Damian Rodgers has predicted a slight rise in temperatures and an end to the snowfall later in the week — meaning Oldham has little chance of a White Christmas.

He added: “It will slowly start to get milder.

“What we have already will start to melt and there will be some left around on Friday but I don’t think we will see a true White Christmas.

“Oldham will get cloudier and murkier but temperatures will rise and the next five to six days should be snow free.”

Police have issued a stark warning to motorists after six cars were stolen in just one morning in Greater Manchester.

The thefts occurred as the owners left the keys in the ignition when defrosting their cars.

Chris Kitson from the Vehicle Intelligence Unit said: “People can be tempted to leave their car engine running on a frosty morning while they keep nice and warm inside their house. However, it only takes a few seconds for a thief to steal a car when the keys have been left in the ignition.

“Motorists should also remember that insurance companies may not pay out if vehicles are stolen after being left unattended with the keys in the ignition.

“It is not only high-powered vehicles that are targeted and so our advice to all drivers is to stay in their vehicle when defrosting and if at any time they need to leave the car, to make sure they lock it, remove any valuables and take the keys with them.”