UK weather: Dozens take refuge in pub amid heavy snowfall

The pub threw open its doors to stranded motorists in East Sussex

About 40 people were forced to take refuge in a pub overnight after heavy snowfall forced some to abandon their cars on impassable roads.

The Bear Inn, in Burwash, East Sussex, threw open its doors to those stranded, providing hot drinks, log fires, and mattresses for children.

Dr Alexandra Loske, who stayed at the pub, said many people slept on the floor, but all were "happy".

The cold spell is set to continue, with further disruption possible.

The heavy snowfall caused widespread disruption, with cancelled flights, suspended train services and treacherous conditions on the roads.

Dr Loske, a curator at Brighton's Royal Pavilion, said dozens of people, including babies, children and elderly people, took shelter in the Bear Inn, and described the scene as "biblical".

Dr Loske said she abandoned her car on the A265 at about 17:00 GMT on Sunday, after the situation there became "very scary".

Many people had broken down, she said, while other cars were simply stuck and vehicles were "sliding everywhere".

"It was quite extraordinary. Fifteen minutes of snow, that's all it took for us to get completely stuck," she added.

She set off with about five families to find shelter, but the first pub they found eventually asked them to leave.

Cars were also abandoned on the A22 near East Grinstead, West Sussex

She said: "Conditions were still really treacherous. Then we figured out the Bear Inn was taking in waifs and strays, and stranded people."

She told BBC Radio Sussex: "It was a long night and quite scary but we made so many good friends and met so many lovely and kind people. We are safe and warm.

"It was absolutely amazing, log fires going, open arms, free food, free hot drinks, they put us all up."

Landlady Pauline Wilson gave shelter to dozens of stranded motorists

The Bear Inn's landlady, Pauline Wilson, said the pub has eight hotel rooms but they quickly filled up.

"Once we were full, we quite quickly realised that these people have got to go somewhere, they can't stay in their cars all night," she said.

"We had three ladies sharing a room, that hadn't even met each other before."

She said all of her overnight guests have now been able to continue their journeys, with some calling her when they got home to thank her for the pub's hospitality.

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Tom Buckley from Bexhill also found refuge in the pub.

He said: "I got stuck on a hill just outside Burwash, got towed up the hill and dug out by the local vicar, who was a hero.

"He offered us a place to stay [but] we went to the Bear Inn who gave us a room.

"Every room was full, people sleeping in the bar. Those people couldn't be any nicer."

Nickie Wood, travelling from Somerset with her husband Gavin, also praised the vicar.

"We wouldn't be here if it weren't for the vicar and his team that pushed us up the hill, because it was treacherous," she said.

"It was the ice on the roads - that was scary."

Hot food was laid on for those stranded overnight

On Monday morning, some in the pub were singing carols and listening to cellist Helen Thomas play

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