Merseyside keeps going despite winter weather problems MERSEYSIDE commuters faced a seventh day of snow and ice as the cold snap continued.A crash on Walton Hall Avenue caused traffic chaos yesterday morning as motorists struggled with icy conditions and snow.
A Mazda car and white van crashed at just after 7am at the junction of Stopgate Lane.
Liverpool airport was also closed between 1am and 6.30am yesterday morning due to the snow fall, although no flights were cancelled.
The Queensway tunnel fell victim to the sub-zero temperatures with unplanned engineering work closing the tunnel for an hour yesterday.
Organisers of the annual charity CAFOD fun run in Wavertree Park announced that the event on December 27 will now not go ahead for health and safety reasons.
But around the region a determination to beat the elements is growing.
Staff at Ormskirk and Southport hospital were praised for putting on their wellies and walking to work.
One nurse who lives on a farm in Ormskirk resorted to driving a tractor to work.
Jonathan Parry, Chief Executive of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, said: “We have had staff walking long distances to work, coming in on their day off and sleeping overnight on site to ensure they are here for patients the next day.
“I am hugely proud of their enormous professionalism and commitment to the health and well-being of the people of Southport and Ormskirk.”
Kind-hearted farmer Andrew Webster helped to make sure West Derby couple Katie and Neill Ward wed by clearing the snow with his tractor.
The Aughton farmer said: “I bet they were panicking the night before.”
The pair married in St Michael’s Church on Saturday and held their reception at the West Tower.
With hours to go the Hollin House farmer rode to the rescue, clearing the car park to allow deliveries and guests to get through.
Mr Webster added: “Round here what we’ve got is community spirit.”
Restaurant staff had bin bags on their feet so they could shovel the drive and dig out the florist who was stuck at the bottom of the road.
Gareth Walker from Widnes was stuck in the snow until a driver from the Liverpool ECHO helped him out.
He said: “I want to say thanks to the van driver.
“I was stuck in snow in Speke retail park and he helped to get me out.
“It’s just a nice thing to do – my wheels were spinning and he dug me out.”
Ryanair announced it had laid on extra flights between Liverpool and Dublin in response to recent weather conditions.
The Met Office weather forecast for Liverpool is not predicting a white Christmas although temperatures are set to remain below freezing.
THE ECHO
