Snowed-in pub guests rescued after five days

The venue, located in the Yorkshire Dales, is said to be Britain's highest pub

A group of guests and staff who have been stranded at "Britain's highest pub" have finally been able to leave after a five-day snow-in.

A snow plough, snow blower and gritters managed to get through the six-foot drifts blocking the Tan Hill Inn in the Yorkshire Dales so the 23 pub-goers - including a four-year-old child - and six workers could get home.

The pub manager told the BBC more staff were also finally able to get to the pub to take over.

Nicole Hayes said: "It's so surreal being back in my own bed - I haven't been there since last year."

Two staff members missed some big milestones while they were stranded - including the birth of a granddaughter

She added: "I went to work on New Year's Eve and only got back yesterday."

Speaking about spending so long cooped up with 23 strangers, Ms Hayes said: "Everyone was amazing. No-one was annoying."

She also said a few of the staff missed some "major milestones" while they were locked in.

One missed her daughter's 18th birthday and another missed the birth of her granddaughter - who she has since met for the first time.

There were also two Australian guests in the group.

Ms Hayes said they were now in London before flying home on Saturday.

She is back to work on Sunday and despite the snowdrifts being "taller than my car" is confident she will make it.

Bar worker Elle Applegarth narrowly managed to avoid the lock-in

Ms Hayes, who has worked at the pub for the past four years, also said: "The two councils who helped us did amazing - if it wasn't for them we'd still be stuck there."

Member of staff Elle Applegarth, 25, arrived to clock in on Thursday and said she thought the group had cabin fever.

"It's all fun at first but then the reality kicks in, you have to keep on going," she said.

"The thing is, the staff have to keep working once they're here.

"I got here about 12:30 [on Thursday] - everyone was just ready to leave. [Someone] started crying, and I was like 'has it been that bad?' and she went 'no, I'm just tired now'.

"I had to leave early so I managed to miss getting locked in."

Ms Hayes also insisted that no guests had turned up at the last minute on Saturday to make sure they got snowed in at a pub and "no-one did it on purpose".

The group passed the time at the isolated spot playing games, watching movies, singing and dancing.

Supermarket chain Aldi also managed to send supplies after a "red wine and banger shortage", contracting a local farmer to deliver them.

Ms Hayes said guests had not been charged for the extra time they had stayed at the inn, but were asked to make a donation to a mountain rescue charity.

Reflecting on the snowed-in experience, she said she had "made friends and memories that'll last a lifetime".

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