Ref. 28849-23A fierce snowstorm transformed the landscape of Swindon into a classic winter wonderland in little more than an hour. Delighted children dusted off their sledges, but most car drivers were far from amused at the icy conditions. TAMASH LAL reports.

SWINDON went white overnight as a blizzard coated the area in snow and ice.

The hats and scarves were out as temperatures plunged but warmer weather is on the way.

Most schools were open, but a few lucky youngsters had an unexpected day off and enjoyed sledging at Coate Water.

Walkers also enjoyed a stroll in the frozen countryside around Lydiard Park.

There was traffic chaos in Swindon on Wednesday night when an inch of snow fell during the rush hour as temperatures fell to 3C.

Swindon Council said it did everything it could to avoid problems.

John Short, director of Swindon Services Swindon Council's environmental arm and the organisation responsible for gritting roads said: "At 4pm on Wednesday we had gritters standing by to grit the A and B roads.

"Information we received via the Met Office and the Wiltshire Weather Centre said there was rain and sleet on its way but not snow. On Tuesday night we gritted all roads.

"Since this weather has been forecast we have been standing by every day.

"The snow came at 5.10pm on Wednesday and within 10 minutes five of our seven vehicles were out.

"By then it was rush hour and the town was gridlocked, but the other half were sent out 20 minutes later it was not necessary for the gritters to go out at 3pm. The fleet worked until 2am.

"This was a freak storm and I can't legislate for a freak of nature.

"From first thing yesterday teams were gritting footpaths, junctions and minor routes. All main routes were operating in Swindon."

Council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawns), said: "We base what we do on the forecast from the Met Office. Based on the forecast, we were going to go out after the rush-hour traffic cleared.

"The trouble was that the snow came earlier than expected, and the gritters got caught in the traffic."

By 9pm on Wednesday, all A and B roads were gritted.

Wayne Elliot, spokesman for the Met Office, also defended the council.

He said: "The conditions were particularly bad, and any authority would have had difficulty in dealing with them effectively."

Hundreds of commuters faced a miserable journey home.

Journeys to Cricklade took an hour-and-a-half, while some motorists took two hours just to get to Wroughton.

The A361 between Swindon and Highworth was particularly bad.

One commuter, Leigh Robinson, took two-and-a-half hours to get home to Burford via Highworth.

He said: "It normally takes me 35 minutes. The average speed going up to Highworth was three miles an hour it would have been quicker to walk."

The AA attended to 600 calls in Wiltshire. Spokeswoman Jane Cobell said: "We were called to a lot of flat batteries, which can be caused by cold weather, and minor bumps, where cars needed to be towed onto the road.

"A lot of engines froze because of low-anti freeze levels."

Swindon police spokeswoman Alvina Kumar said: "The ice is melting, but we would still urge motorists to take care and be sensible because of the slush."

Although the main roads were gritted, many side streets were icy.

Chris Birdsall, spokesman for the Great Western Hospital, said 91 people had been treated for falls.

He said: "We have had quite a few fractures where people have fallen on the ice. "Elderly people are particularly vulnerable, and we would urge them to stay inside if they can.

"We had a few members of staff who haven't been able to get in because of the weather, but it has not caused any major problems."

There were no problems with rail services.

Just four schools were unable to open yesterday Greenmeadow in Swindon, Bradon Forest at Purton and Northview and Westrop in Highworth.