It’s as cold as -10C as North shivers

Jan 7 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal

THE big freeze tightened its grip on the North East last night as forecasters warned temperatures would continue to plunge.

Temperatures plummeted to minus 10C in Allenheads, Northumberland, as Siberian conditions hit the region. It was so cold that the oil froze in the kerosene heated boilers used to warm many homes.

A heavy covering of snow also meant that people could ski for most of the day in fields near their homes.

Mother-of-two Helen Radcliffe, who runs Allenheads Contemporary Arts and lives in the village, said: “I know of two of my neighbours who were left without heating as the oil in their central heating systems turned to jelly overnight.

“And people have been round to borrow my camping stove as they said the butane gas had frozen in their cooker.

“We’ve got a good covering of snow and the roads are so icy there’s a few people who have not been able to use their cars. It looks picture postcard beautiful.

“Everyone has been filling their hot water bottles and cranking up the central heating, for those that could get the central heating to work.”

Children were skiing at the farmer’s field used by the British Norwegian Ski Club, based in the former lead mining village, in which a vintage tractor was used to power an improvised ski lift.

And villagers are braced for further snow as officials warned the cold snap would continue to the end of the week.

Northumberland County Council highways manager Colin Charlton said the road temperature had dropped to minus 10C in Allenheads, Lanehead and at Carter Bar in Northumberland, and in Tow Law in County Durham. He said: “It’s not been this cold for a good few years and it’s going to stay this cold to the end of the week.

“We have weather stations which measure the road temperature and get regular reports from the Met Office which help us predict when we need to get out with the gritters and the ploughs.

“The weather has not caused any major problems so far but on some north-facing roads which do not get the sun, the frost will stick.”

Among the schools closed in the region were Archbishop Runcie CE First School in Gosforth, Newcastle; and Christ Church CE Primary School, in Shieldfield, Newcastle. Trinity School’s Oakfield Site in Elswick, Newcastle, will remain closed for a second day today due to continuing problems with the school’s heating.

Assistant head Chris Rue said: “There is obviously no possibility of us opening the school without heating in weather like this, so we have no choice but to remain closed until the problem is fixed.

“We are doing everything we can to put this right, and we are really sorry for any inconvenience caused to parents and pupils.”

As the chilly conditions continue, Help the Aged is offering older people a free Three Steps to a Warmer Winter pack.

Mervyn Kohler, special adviser to Help the Aged, said: “It is important to keep warm during this cold snap, which is why we would urge older people to make sure they continue to heat their homes.

“Anyone concerned about the costs of heating should order one of our free Winter Warmer packs to find out what support is on offer.”

A free copy of the pack is available by calling 0800 089 0800.

Click here to keep track on the latest travel and school closure news in our weather section