BRITAIN:A major rescue operation was under way last night after 130 cars became stranded by a blizzard on a remote road in the north of England.
Motorists were caught out by heavy snowfalls that hit parts of counties Durham and Cumbria yesterday.
They were left stranded in their cars on the A66, about five miles outside of Bowes, near Barnard Castle in Durham, because of the worsening weather.
Among those rescued from the road, which was closed between Scotch Corner and Brough, was a group of 40 pensioners.
The decision to close the road was taken by the Durham and Cumbria forces after police described the trans-Pennine route as impassable.
Assistant chief constable Michael Banks, of Durham Police, said motorists were being evacuated to Bowes Village Hall and the Ancient Unicorn pub.
"Emergency services are at the scene and everything possible is being done to ensure the safety of the people stranded in their vehicles," he said.
"The weather conditions remain treacherous and the road impassable. The road will only be reopened once it is safe to do so. The situation has been created solely as a result of the weather conditions."