Look back: How the Beast from the East 2018 hit Andover

Residents will remember when the first Beast from the East hit the town in March 2018 as it caused havoc across the UK and travel disruption in Andover.

Click on our picture gallery above to relieve some of the moments from 2018.

Schools were closed, shops were shut early and transport became problematic due to hazardous conditions caused by temperatures that dropped below freezing with train and bus travel almost halted completely. Scheduled events were postponed or cancelled, including the Andover Town Tidy Day and the Market For All Seasons.

At the same time, “a real team effort” was witnessed at Andover hospital with staff, volunteers, and even family members helped out to keep services running throughout “snowmaggedon”.

Donna Green, chief nurse at Hampshire Hospitals, told The Advertiser she was very proud of the staff community pulling together when the snow “hit the hospitals hard”. At Andover War Memorial Hospital, staff stayed overnight, worked longer hours, shared their rooms with colleagues who could not get home and even husbands of staff members took to clearing the roads to allow visitors to access the hospital.

Ms Green said: “There was some great team effort which always happens every day but it extenuates it and reminds us of how amazing our staff are.

“Despite the fact that it was tough everyone wanted to do the right thing for the patients.”

The crisis saw many farmers from Andover volunteering their time and tractors in an effort to help keep the roads clear of snow.

One of them was Peter Ling, who cleared routes around Andover, from the town centre up to the A303.

He said: “I went out on Thursday at 4:30pm and stayed out until midnight.

“I then set out again at 4am on Friday.”

Not only did the snow hero help clear roads, he also helped a number of residents and drivers who needed assistance.

He said: “A couple who live near the golf course needed help to be able to get into their drive. I said I’ll do it for a cuppa.

“I also towed cars and even towed a lorry out of Walworth Industrial Estate.”

A gamekeeper from Laverstoke was also among people who answered the call to help Hampshire Hospitals staff get to work during the Beast from the East.

Steven Blunden awoke to the news that there was an appeal going out for 4x4 drivers to help get hospital staff to work through the Arctic conditions as the weather conditions worsened and the snow continued to fall.

Mr Blunden said: “I took two nurses to Basingstoke hospital in the morning in my 4x4, one for the intensive care unit, and another who was working in isolation.

“The staff at the hospital are absolutely fantastic and work very hard.

“It was amazing that the whole hospital was still running, and if I could repay a little bit of what they were doing for everybody , then it was worth it.

“It was a very good feeling to help out.”