HEAVY snow brought delight and disruption in equal measure, as children played and residents faced treacherous road conditions and widespread power cuts.

Nearly all Forest and many Wye Valley schools were forced to close by Sunday’s heavy snowfall.

Nearly 1,000 homes and businesses were without power for much of Monday in the Cinderford and Upper Soudley areas as well, with a branch crashing onto an electric line beside the town skate park.

Refuse collections in the Forest were suspended on Monday and Tuesday with additional crews out today (Wed­nesday).

Food waste collections that were missed on Monday and Tuesday will be picked up, with residents advised to leave containers on the kerbside until Saturday if safe to do so.

But Father Christmas made it through on his Santa Special at the Dean Forest Railway, which continued to run. It was a different story on the roads, with snow, ice and fallen trees making for hazardous driving.

Many commuters failed to make it to work, with some that set out forced to abandon cars at the roadside, while there were several near misses and minor accidents, including lorries jack-knifing and a double decker bus sliding into a bus shelter.

No one was in the shelter when the Stagecoach bus lost its grip in Coleford’s Market Place on Monday evening, as its rear end slid out of control just hours after a Wessex Mill flour lorry had jack-knifed between two cars in the same spot.

Jo Watkins saw the lorry slide and posted: “I was just glad that no one was hurt. It could have all ended so badly.”

A Lidl’s delivery lorry also caused chaos outside the Gulf petrol station in Mitcheldean when it jack-knifed on Sunday, blocking the road.

A woman motorist who saw cars stuck in the snow in Mitcheldean posted: “I’ve seen at least four crashes and accidents coming from Huntley to Cinderford this morning.”

A community support worker also wrote: “Had to abandon my car on the Elton Road at 7am this morning. Had to walk to Cinderford to work. Stranded until tomorrow night.”

Highways staff were kept busy clearing trees from blocked Wyedean roads, including outside Steam Mills Primary School on the A4151, the A40 between Huntley and Highnam, the Joys Green to Ruardean road, Mile End Road and Crossways in Coleford and Bailey Lane in Hewelsfield.

The Staunton to Monmouth road was also affected, alongside Stowfield Road and Chapel Hill in English Bicknor, while there were trees down in Parkend, and near the Speech House, Mallards Pike and the Rising Sun in Moseley.

Gritters and snow ploughs worked around the clock to beat the freeze, with early morning commuter Sheree Baker Ransome posting on Monday: “I went to work at four this morning and can only say thanks to the men working on the gritters.”

Rescue services were also in action, with firefighters making it through to tackle a blaze in Ruardean on Sunday, Gloucestershire Fire chief Stewart Edgar later tweeting: “Fantastic response from @Glosfire firefighters using long wheel base landrover – the only vehicle that had any chance in rural Forest of Dean today – great response to garage fire.”

Sport also took a hit, with the icy weather forcing Monmouth Rowing Club to cancel its annual Christmas Head Race on the River Wye on Sunday, disappointing 600 rowers.

Some 40 schools were closed in the Forest on Monday, with many remaining shut yesterday (Tuesday), although Ruardean Primary opened from noon on Monday after a plea to volunteers to help clear snow and ice.

Residents picked up shovels to clear paths and roads in the Ross Community Hospital car park, while Wayne Morgan tweeted: “Great community spirit at Cyril Hart Way, Coleford. The whole street was out shovelling snow to clear the road.”

Matt Hammersley skied to work at Apex Outdoor adventure shop in Coleford.

“Stunning here this morning, skied to work!” he posted.