Gurkhas came to our rescue

Richard Jeferies, a Sheerness artist, said: “I got up at 5.30am to catch my usual morning train to London. As I opened my front door the snow level was at my knees.

“At the station the snow on the tracks was level with the platform.

“Then later in town I have a vivid memory of walking past the bingo hall, seeing a broken down car, a broken down AA van and a broken down AA tow truck all in a line.”

Sue Whiting, wife of Swale Borough councillor Mike, was a midwife at Sheppey Community Hospital, Minster, while pregnant with their first child.

She said: “It was obviously a little scary for mums in labour, knowing that if emergency care was required it would be a long journey to the ‘mainland’ hospital as the old Kingsferry bridge was pretty much impassable.

“On a couple of occasions the Gurkhas came to our rescue and helped escort mums as needed, but all in all things went smoothly.”