Ref. 28840-19WEATHER experts had been predicting snow and ice for more than a week but when the short and sharp blizzard came yesterday, Swindon's gritters were nowhere to be seen.

The roads became treacherous within minutes as temperatures plummeted to 3C, just as the weathermen said they would.

But the big freeze came as workers were leaving their offices, untreated roads turned into ice-rinks and the town was gridlocked.

There was chaos in Wroughton, Old Town, and Highworth. Council leader Mike Bawden has promised to look into why gritters were caught out.

He said: "Why didn't we get the gritters out at 3pm? I don't honestly know the answer because the idea is to get them out before the snow comes down."

Trains appear to be running with no problems with frozen points.

Some schools will remain closed today and sports fixtures had to be cancelled last night.