AN ambulance on an emergency call to Lydney was helped out by residents after it became stuck in the snow.

It was just one of hundreds of examples of community spirit across the Forest and Wye Valley as the area was struck by the worst snow for years.

Residents of Oxford Street in Lydney came to the rescue with shovels, a tow rope and a 4x4 when the South Western Ambulance Service vehicle got stuck in snow on Thursday evening (March 1).

The ambulance was responding to a call for a seven-month-old baby and thanks to the help of local people were soon on their way.

Lydney Hospital and minor injuries unit remained open throughout with nurses staying overnight to look after patients.

Meanwhile, Dawn Cracknell, who runs Tidenham-based DS Cracknell Contracting, responded to a plea from the hospital’s matron at Lydney Hospital, Cheryl Haswell, for help in clearing the hospital car park of snow on Saturday morning.

Dawn and her team, who had been working in south Wales for several days, had the car park cleared by noon on Saturday.

A spokesperson for the Friends of Lydney Hospital said: “In spite of the severe weather and heavy snowfall, Lydney Hospital and the minor injuries stayed open throughout – with many thanks to the hard-working nurses who stayed overnight to look after patients.

“We are also grateful to Dawn and her team for responding magnificently to the request for help to clear the car park.

Volunteers from the Severn Area Rescue Association at Beachley had teams assisting travel to and from the Royal Gwent Hospital at Newport and Nevill Hall Hospital at Abergavenny.

Among their tasks was transporting an elderly patient from Nevill Hall to her home, having to negotiate 150-metres up a hill track with three-feet snow drifts.

A team of carers walked a couple of miles from Chepstow to Pwllmeyric to visit a client who has multiple sclerosis – and even brought some flowers.

Chris Taylor of Caldicot was nominated for hero status after offering transport to people including nurses and carers.

Chris was one of several people in the area who offered transport or who took out tractors and diggers to clear snow.