Snow coats hills as winter returns

SO this is Easter: Dr Taresh Mistry clears his windscreen in Scouthead

Winter returned to parts of the borough overnight with snow and fog hampering travelling.
But Oldham Council’s snow patrol, which had been on standby for the last four days, combated the bad weather with a full turn out of snow ploughs and gritters.

Up to six inches of snow fell on hills above Saddleworth but although travellers were advised to drive with caution no major snags were reported.

Early morning motorists heading from Saddleworth to Marsden said fog had brought extra problems. One said: “It began snowing around midnight. The roads were passable and I saw a snow plough and gritter at work early doors. But on the lower ground we seem to have got away with just a light dusting of snow.”

Councillor Mark Alcock, Oldham Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, said his gritting and snow plough teams had been on standby for several days.

“We were ready for the downturn in weather,” he said. “Our full team was on the move overnight and although we had up to six inches of snow on the A62 and other moorland roads we ensured all roads were passable.”