Military Provides Vital Aid As Snow Disruption Continues

The snow may be stopping, but treacherous conditions are continuing with a high risk of coastal flooding and "death trap" black ice.

Once again the Armed Forces are out, working in the areas hardest hit, with many volunteering in their own time to help those in need.

Here's a rundown of the military assistance provided so far:

CUMBRIA 

The military has been called in to take emergency supplies to "extremely isolated" parts of Cumbria after severe weather wreaked havoc across the area.

The county council said areas including Fellside, South Stainmore and Alston had been cut off for five days - and would remain so for another 48 hours - after heavy snowfall and slow progress in clearing the roads.

A Chinook helicopter has been brought in to drop supplies, including food, coal and logs for heating and electrical heating appliances in an operation that began this morning.

SCOTLAND

Army soldiers in 4x4 vehicles transported NHS Scotland staff to and from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and the Western General Hospital.

Reservists from the Scottish and Northern Irish Yeomanry are also helping with snow relief efforts.

A further 20 4x4s from across the three services are deployed in Tayside and Fife to support NHS Scotland.

WALES

Footage shows 20 Royal Marines throwing their weight behind an enormous lorry after it became stuck at a service station in Newport, Wales.

The lorry stuck on snow and slippery ice was propelled forwards by the burly marines until it was able to move again. 

The marines waved the truck driver off as he set out on his journey once again. 

LINCOLNSHIRE 

20 RAF personnel and in 4x4 RAF vehicles transported health staff to hospitals and communities in Lincolnshire.

SHROPSHIRE

20 Army soldiers in 4x4s are transporting health staff to hospitals and support health workers visiting vulnerable people in the community in Shropshire.

DEVON & CORNWALL

20 Royal Marines are using 4x4 vehicles to transport health staff to hospitals and communities in Devon and Cornwall.

Royal Marine Arctic driving specialists also used their skills to deliver vital medicine to a holidaymaker in North Devon.

The holidaymaker, who suffers from epilepsy, became stranded in Lynton, North Devon, because of the extreme weather conditions.

Specialist snow and ice drivers, Sergeant Gatehouse and Marine Hemmingway, set out along the A39, where snow drifts were up to 10ft, whilst a second-team collected the medication from the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

The Marines managed to make it within just over a mile of the cottage and then made the rest of the journey on foot.

GREATER MANCHESTER

The military assisted Greater Manchester Police to enable them to access and assist motorists on the M62.

WILTSHIRE

The military is providing 10 vehicles and personnel to transport NHS workers in the Salisbury and Swindon area.

The Defence Secretary met with soldiers from 1 Royal Irish, who have been carrying out vital work transporting health workers in the Shropshire area, which has been hit by heavy snow.

Gavin Williamson said up and down the country, "our Armed Forces are doing an incredible job".

"From Scotland to Cornwall, more than 100 personnel from across the forces are making a real difference in getting nurses and doctors to vulnerable and elderly patients, and helping rescue those left stranded in freezing conditions.

"I pay tribute to their professionalism, dedication and sense of duty.

"They are proving once again that Britain can always depend on our troops to protect us no matter the time, no matter the place, and no matter the problem."

Military assistance will continue as necessary during the current adverse weather conditions and will be regularly reviewed in line with the requirement.

Three UK standby battalions are held at high readiness to respond to UK contingencies and emergencies, including support to local authorities. 

Military assistance in numbers:

• 328 personnel have helped with the snow response
• 124 4x4 vehicles have been mobilised
• 1 Chinook has been deployed