Military Called In As Britain Struggles To Cope With Heavy Snow

Lincolnshire police have called upon the Royal Air Force after they were overloaded with appeals for help following a night of heavy snowfall.

A critical incident was declared after dozens of traffic incidents were reported, and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was asked to help:

“The RAF is assisting in helping to transport health staff to hospitals and support health workers in visiting vulnerable people in the community in Lincolnshire following heavy snowfall.”

The UK is experiencing what is predicted to be the coldest week of the winter season in five years, with temperatures reaching almost -12°C in some areas.

The cold snap has been particularly significant when it comes to continuing operations at RAF Benson. 

There, they've recorded coldest march weather in record since 1942 today, and their aircraft ground to a halt as a result.

The base is the frontline support helicopter base, so those on site have been working hard to ensure that the runway is clear in case of an emergency.

Benson is home to the Puma, Chinook, Thames Valley air ambulance and national police air service helicopter.

Now the runway has been cleared, it's the job of Met Office staff on base to keep the crews informed at all times of the current weather conditions.

The cold snap has been nicknamed the 'Beast from the East' in the UK, with red weather warnings in place for the South West, Wales and Scotland, and yellow weather warnings covering large swathes of rest of the country.

With schools closing and emergency services rescuing stranded vehicles, police across the country advised motorists to avoid driving if possible owing to poor visibility and treacherous conditions.

The National Grid has issued a "gas deficit warning" as fears mount that supplies could run empty amid extreme weather conditions across Britain.

The power operator said the warning has been issued in response to a series of "significant supply losses resulting in a forecast end-of-day supply deficit".

Household supplies are not expected to be affected but shortages could hit industrial users as the Grid attempts to balance supply and demand into Friday.

Despite the heavy snow and cold weather, the Armed Forces have continued to carry out their duties.