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UK weather: snow disruption continues with hundreds of drivers stranded – live UK weather: snow disruption continues with hundreds of drivers stranded – live
(about 5 hours later)
Electricity North West says the number of properties without power has increased from 3,000 to 5,000 in the region. It blamed 100 separate faults on the network, each requiring teams to attend site to make repairs. You can add South Western Railway to the list of operators experiencing major problems (see 1.18pm update)
The combination of very high winds and snow has made restoration efforts very difficult.Electricity North West incident manager, Chris Fox said: “High winds across the North West have caused damage to our overhead line network, and the snow and ice have added weight to the lines in some instances causing lines to come down and poles to break.“The snow is also causing access issues even with our fleet of 4x4s, and we are working with the emergency services to highlight priority areas for restoration. Please get in touch with us if you are without power and stay safe and warm until our engineers can restore power.” I can’t get on its website at the moment, presumably due to the volume of commuters - like me - attempting to check their journey home, but last time I looked there was “major disruption” on most, if not all routes.
The main hospital in Exeter has postponed all planned surgery and diagnostic appointments, due to the severe weather. At any rate, it will not be running any services at all after 8pm tonight.
An “Internal critical incident” has been declared by the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust. *URGENT*-02/03 Our service will be closing down by 20:00 today. We are urging you not to attempt to travel. If you have already travelled, please return as early as possible. For further information, please see https://t.co/pkL7rv4JVT
It said: A building supply company donated pipes to Devon and Cornwall police searching for cars buried in huge snowdrifts.
“Due to the severe conditions, the trust has declared an internal critical incident which means we are prioritising all available staff and resources to urgent and emergency services only today at our main Wonford site and in community teams. Massive thanks to @RGBArchie for donating the piping to use as avalanche poles. Searching for buried cars in snow drifts @DC_PoliceDTU @DC_Police pic.twitter.com/icr7I6dZQy
“As a result we have postponed all outpatient and planned routine surgery and diagnostic appointments today and we will contact all patients affected to reschedule as soon as possible. All emergency services including our emergency department are running as normal at this time. The pipes were used as makeshift avalanche poles on Devon’s deluged A386.
“We would ask the public to continue their support for our staff by not visiting friends or relatives in the hospital today unless absolutely essential.” Officers and partners still working long hours attending collisions and stranded vehicles. Thanks to the local building firm for giving our officers the poles here to search for vehicles on A386! Much of N&W Devon is still inaccessible- follow police advice. Supt Toby Davies. pic.twitter.com/SrbOaok4qg
Morning, please see our latest Trust statement on the ongoing impact of the adverse weather today (2nd March). pic.twitter.com/j4B96AA61c Theresa May began her big Brexit speech today by thanking public sector workers and volunteers for helping those hit by the weather.
Readers around the UK have been sharing more of their images of snowy scenes. Opening a speech that had been switched from Newcastle to London’s Mansion house because of the severe weather, the prime minister said:
Mario Alberto Moreno Rocha, a research student at the University of St Andrews living in Dundee, said there has been no academic activity - until today - due weather warnings in Scotland. This morning he spotted some undergraduates in their gowns in St Salvator’s quad: I would just like to take a moment to thank everyone in our country who is going the extra mile to help people at this time. I’m thinking of our emergency services and armed forces working to keep people safe, our NHS staff, care workers and all those keeping our public services going, and the many volunteers who are giving their time to help those in need. Your contribution is a special part of who we are as a country and it is all the more appreciated at a moment like this.
Sales office administrator, Ness, 53 from Castleford tried to avoid an accident by leaving her car at home and walking to work instead. Unfortunately the car has been written off after another car hit it: Up to 2,000 people stranded in Center Parcs Longleat have been told they can stay the weekend free.
Gwyneth Couchman, 65, from Cwm Penmachno, Snowdonia is often snowed in but that doesn’t stop her husband from going out to the shops for supplies: “Thankfully our community is a very caring one and neighbours help out with lifts from the bottom of our track. This is my husband returning with the essentials - bread, milk, cheese and the Guardian of course.” @matthew_weaver confirmed that we can stay for free for the weekend 👍 pic.twitter.com/jTJ7KAWtVy
You can continue to share your images and video via GuardianWitness using the contribute buttons above. Earlier Center Parcs left guest in limbo at Whinfell Forest in Cumbria and Longleat Forest in Wiltshire (see earlier). They were told not to leave their lodges because of blocked roads around both villages. Until now the holiday company had not made clear whether stranded guests at Longleat would be allowed to stay.
Wiltshire council has become the latest local authority to declare a major incident due to the extreme weather. Virgin Trains said it will not run any cross-border trains between England and Scotland on Friday.
A major Incident has been declared in #Wiltshire to deal with issues on the A303 and routes leading to it. Do not travel in that area. A Virgin Trains spokesman said: “We are working hard to look after our customers in whatever way we can and ticket restrictions on both routes have been lifted today, so customers who do decide to travel can do so on any service, but are advised to check our websites for the most up to date information before going to the station.”
Major incidents have also been declared by police forces in Hampshire, Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, and Lincolnshire. The only trains running on the west coast main line between Glasgow and Carlisle are snow ploughs.
We're continuing to deal with a major incident on the A31 in Hampshire due to the severe weather conditions. Please follow the link for more information - https://t.co/dYvmNZUuOR @NetworkRailSCOT @AlastairDalton @chris_railway @DRSgovuk The big ploughs are out, fighting the beast from the East, seen passing Thankerton on the WCML at 1303 on Friday 2 March 2018 pic.twitter.com/zrubW5dXpY
Please don't use the region's roads this morning as conditions are still dangerous. More #snow & #ice is expected today.Last night, a major incident was declared and an operation was launched to rescue people stranded in vehicles. https://t.co/F4qdoi7Rt2#StormEmma pic.twitter.com/wQWwhp8MQG Police in Wiltshire believe that everyone who was stranded on the closed A303 have now been rescued.
Ahead of the current amber warning for snow expiring at 10am this morning, Scots are still being warned to travel only if absolutely necessary. We believe everyone stranded on the A303 has now been rescued by our officers. If you are still stranded and we haven't reached you, call 101. The road remains closed.
Snow is not expected to thaw for days and further snow showers are expected throughout Friday. Major incidents were declared in Wiltshire Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and Hampshire, after hundreds of drivers were stranded on roads in the west country. The A303 was worst hit with drivers complaining of being stuck in their vehicles for 15 hours. Around 40 people, including a baby, were stuck on a bus from London on the road.
Those heading out are advised to make sure they are fully prepared with a winter kit, warm clothing, food and drink. Police Scotland Superintendent Helen Harrison said: Those who were stuck on the A346 between Swindon and Marlborough are now safe. They were rescued and initially moved to the village hall at Chiseldon; they are now being taken by bus to Swindon. Volunteers from the Red Cross have been assisting.
“The snow has settled and is not expected to thaw, so extreme care will still need to be taken on the roads towards lunchtime and beyond, as public transport systems also start to operate again. You should still consider if your journey is necessary and think about using buses and trains when they are running or postponing your travel until weather has improved further.” We’ve been out doing our bit in an attempt to help stranded travellers in these Siberian conditions ❄️🐾 #StormEmma #BeastoftheEast #A346 #wiltshire #Marlborough #Swindon pic.twitter.com/FpHtDuMgnA
Matt Collins is one of around 2,000 guests stuck in limbo in Center Parcs Longleat (see earlier), along with another 2,000 in the same position in Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, Cumbria. The red and amber weather warnings may have been lifted but yellow, be prepared warning for snow and ice, still apply to much of the UK.
“There are worse places to be stuck”, he told the Guardian after Center Parcs warned guests not to leave because of blocked roads around both villages. A yellow severe weather warning for #ice has been updated: https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs Stay #weatheraware @metofficeuk pic.twitter.com/9mENxreRQI
But Collins said it was frustrating not knowing whether he and his family could stay in their lodge. A number of major roads remain closed including the M90 in Scotland, the A68 and A1 in the Borders, and the A303 and A46 in the west country.
I’m here with my wife and two kids and my mother-in-law. They told us the park is at capacity. And most of the facilities are open apart from the outdoor ones like all the tree stuff and playgrounds. It’s just tempered by not knowing where we are going to be sleeping tonight. M90 S/B J2a and #A92 CLOSED ⛔@policescotland holding traffic while @SETrunkRoads clears up from #Beastfromtheeast! pic.twitter.com/Yntn7CuIWX
Collins, who runs a digital marketing company, added: #A68 and #A1 updates - #closed Don't even set off for these routes. And the sideroads are #closeder Follow our friends @trafficscotland for updates. https://t.co/5YOeDZ2KVV
“There is no more information than you have seen on the Facebook post. On the TV screens it says ‘stay in your lodges, the roads are not passable or safe, and we’ll update you a bit later’. The #A303 in #Devon remains CLOSED bothways btn #A30 and #A358 nr #Marsh. Severe conditions in the area has led to collisions and stranded vehicles. We have welfare vehicles at scene. Road users are advised to make essential journeys only due to ongoing weather conditions
“I’ve called to see if we can stay an extra night, because the amber weather warning is covering our route from here to home. A4 is open as far as we are aware, A46 however is closed
“They are telling us not to leave, but they are not telling us if we can stay, if that makes sense. A lot of the shops aren’t open, but the main supermarket is open, and there’s no panic buying just yet. NHS chief executive Simon Stevens has praised the heroic efforts of his staff in defiance of this week’s arctic conditions.
“If we have to stay tonight, my understanding is that we will have to pay, and that wasn’t what we were planning. It’s a little fraught, because we don’t know what’s going on. We don’t know if we can leave, we don’t know if we can stay. He said: “Once again the NHS is showing that we are there for people when they need us and that’s all down to our staff, so a huge thank you to everybody across the NHS who is going the extra mile for people at this highly pressurised time.”
Worse places to be stuck pic.twitter.com/7lYoDK4reG Stevens singled out a London paramedic and staff at Sunderland for a special mention.
A homeless man, named locally as Ben, died while sleeping in freezing temperatures in a tent in Retford, Nottinghamshire, the Nottingham Post reports. He said: “We’ve seen examples across the country, including Kat, a paramedic from London Ambulance service, who cycled to her blue light emergencies when the vehicles couldn’t get through. And staff in Sunderland who stayed overnight in the hospital last night, as has happened in many places around the country in order to be there for patients.”
The man’s body was discovered in the early hours of Tuesday and police confirmed they were made aware of a “sudden death” by the ambulance services at 8.40am that morning. Kat on our #StPancrasCRU team has been taking on the #BeastFromTheEast head-on to get to patients through the #snow, & is ready for #StormEmma!Here she is caught on video, making good progress, with no complaints, & a smile on her face! #NHSHeroThank you Kat!💪👏🚲🌨❄️☃️ pic.twitter.com/oNv1s5ChBI
Speaking to the paper, scout leader Hazel Newstead, who knew Ben, described him as “a lovely, friendly chap” who had told her he was 53 and a former brickie from the south of England. “We used to chat to Ben over the wall. He was happy here and didn’t want to go to a shelter in Worksop,” she said. Sunderland football club says it will provide a makeshift shelter for homeless and vulnerable people in the Stadium of Light this weekend.
Local designer Kenny Roach said he had known Ben well and had previously given him money and food. He said Ben had recently come out of hospital after suffering from pneumonia. It has a special warm-room complete with places to sleep, hot food and hot drinks for those in need of shelter.
“He was a grafter but he just needed somebody to give him a break,” said Roach. “He couldn’t get a job because he didn’t have a home, he couldn’t get a home because he didn’t have a job, and he couldn’t get benefits because he didn’t have a home. It’s a vicious, vicious circle. People need to cut them some slack.” Pets are also welcome, the club said.
There are no legal protections for people sleeping rough in England during severe weather, but most councils offer extra beds when temperatures are forecast to drop below 0C for three consecutive nights. A survey by the charity Homeless Link found that last winter 118 local authorities provided “severe weather and extended winter provision” to 2,793 people. There are still major problems on many main rail routes.
There are seven flood warnings (meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required) across the UK. Four are in the north east of England and three in the south-west. South Eastern Railway has urged people not to travel on it network.
Twenty flood alerts - flooding is possible, be prepared are in operation, again mainly in the north-east and south-west. Storm damage to fencing and coping storms at Dawlish in Devon has cut the rail link to Cornwall.
The worst area in Cornwall appears to be Porthallow on the Lizard Peninsula, where five properties have been flooded because of a combination of high tides, strong winds and melting snow. Arriva Trains to south Wales are cancelled until further notice.
Specialist Water Rescue crews from #Penzance are in attendance at Porthallow 🌊❄️💦🚨 There is significant flooding due to high river levels, large seas & high winds.. #flooding #notjustfires @CornwallFRS @MCA_media pic.twitter.com/8NaEiqMAuh Snow ploughs are still trying to clear the west coat main line from Carlisle to Glasgow.
The rail line at Dawlish in south Devon has been blocked, according to Plymouth Labour MP Luke Pollard. There are unconfirmed reports that the seawall battered by storms in 2014 has been damaged again. IMPORTANT UPDATE: There is SEVERE disruption across the entire network at the moment, with no trains running in east Kent. Please DO NOT TRAVEL at the moment - we're working with @NetworkRailSE to get things up and running as quickly as we can. pic.twitter.com/L62kjYpFbL
If so there will be recriminations. The main line to Plymouth and beyond runs through here and many people feel not enough is being done to protect the route. Update on the railway line through #Dawlish; connecting #Devon and #Cornwall with rest of Britain.No rail services today due to damage. #TeamOrange are already on site and will be working around the clock to make the railway safe so that it can reopen. pic.twitter.com/3pZpH1bwPI
Pollard said: “In the same week the Government published its sham of a strategy for SW rail the track at Dawlish is blocked by storms again. Time for action not more vague promises from ministers.” ⚠️ Passenger advice ⚠️Despite considerable effort by railway teams, services in the South are cancelled until further notice. Information about services tomorrow (3 March) will be shared later today.Keep an eye on JourneyCheck for updates:https://t.co/ebqza1r41d pic.twitter.com/4zsEw8kHKV
In the same week the Government published its sham of a strategy for SW rail the track at Dawlish is blocked by storms again. Time for action not more vague promises from Ministers. https://t.co/G3oRHtJNoV Drivers eye view of a test train travelling between #PortGlasgow & #Gourock to check the route is safe for the re-introduction of passenger services.As well as showing the wintry conditions, it shows the challenges the teams on the ground face dealing with them pic.twitter.com/xQifAqXbtT
South Western Railway warned passengers to expect disruption to until noon. Meanwhile, some rail travellers have been delayed after push-button train doors froze up.
“Due to multiple broken-down trains between Weymouth and Southampton Central, all lines are blocked. Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised at short notice. All stations between Bournemouth and Weymouth will not be served. Disruption is expected until 12:00 02/03. A driver on a London Northwestern service apologised to passengers travelling between London and Tring, Hertfordshire.
“Because of the severe weather conditions, multiple trains have broken down between Weymouth and Bournemouth. All lines between these stations are currently blocked. He said cold weather had caused the opening mechanisms on some doors to freeze.
“Trains are stuck in a queue behind the defective trains and are unable to move. We are in the process of trying to move the broken-down trains and will update you when we have further information. Emergency rail replacement is extremely limited in the area due to severe weather, but we are doing our best to help you complete your journey.” The driver delayed departures from stations to give passengers time to find a door which was working.
Meanwhile, in Cornwall at least five homes have flooded in Porthallow. Network Rail Western has praised the efforts of “Team Orange” - its hardy track workers.
Fire & rescue crews, highways staff and police are currently dealing with reports of flooding in the Lizard area, caused by a combination of high tide, strong winds and run off from melting snow. The worst affected area is in Porthallow where five properties have been flooded. In Par, Cornwall, they have used leaf blowers to clear snow from the line. Further north a worker called Gerry dug snow through the night to keep the points clear at Bristol Parkway station.
Flood water is 3ft deep in places, the landlord of the Five Pilchards pub in Porthallow, told BBC Radio Cornwall. They also faced some spectacular icicles at Rainbow Hill Tunnel in Worcester.
Dave Lambrick, the landlord of the Five Pilchards pub in #Porthallow on the #Lizard tells @Skentelbery + @ChurchfieldJE flooding was "absolutely horrendous" - water three foot deep in places - blames the exceptional high tide and #snow melt #StormEmmahttps://t.co/TVIuqTkcas Extreme weather conditions are being seen all across the route. This spectacular scene from Rainbow Hill Tunnel in Worcester shows just how cold it is. Team Orange continue to tackle the elements to keep the railway running #Worcester #TeamOrange pic.twitter.com/euYhnGa3A2
The military has been deployed to help clear the snow-covered roads in and around Greater Manchester after drivers were stranded for several hours overnight, police have said. Meanwhile in south Wales, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood thanked her milkman, John the Milk, for getting through.
Greater Manchester Police urged motorists not to travel at all on Friday morning as winds of up to 80mph whip up huge snow drifts, especially in the worst-hit boroughs of Rochdale and Oldham. She tweeted: “The #Rhondda is under snow yet John the Milk still does his rounds. Da iawn a diolch John. Fantastic.”
A large stretch of the M62 between Rochdale and Huddersfield, including the bit where it becomes the highest motorway in England have been closed due to the treacherous conditions. Not only overjoyed to still have milk delivered to the door, but impressed beyond that it’s been delivered today. The #Rhondda is under snow yet John the Milk still does his rounds. Da iawn a diolch John. Fantastic #CommunityService 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/CsTfLPrj1H
Drivers were reportedly stuck for 11 hours overnight between Junctions 21 at Milnrow and Junction 22 at Saddleworth, with some abandoning their cars and seeking refuge with nearby residents. The weather has even defeated some snow ploughs and gritters.
Heroic volunteers were seen trekking up the motorway with supplies, while highways officers reportedly resorted to cutting through a barrier on the M62 carriageway so drivers could be guided to safety. It's still really icy out there! This is one of our gritters on the A379 on Labrador Bends near Shaldon. Fortunately everyone unharmed but we're a gritter down until it can be recovered. #WeatherSW pic.twitter.com/vWHx8Ga8DH
This is the A46 near Bath. There’s usually a big traffic jam here at this time. Today empty apart from stranded vehicles and dog walker. @EDCouncil rescued your gritter stockiemuir road. pic.twitter.com/m3NTz15k14
A46 near Bath. Usually jam here at this time. Today empty apart from stranded vehicles and dog walker https://t.co/eCSTom51hl via @YouTube Our first Gritter from the morning run is back and it looks like they've had a right battle with the #BeastFromTheEast ❄️🚍Once they're all back, refuelled and refilled we'll be back on another run.Time and details are tbc. pic.twitter.com/1waOangx6w
Steven Morris Fri 2nd March: Gritter drivers had a busy night across #Buckinghamshire last night. Ploughs were deployed across much of the network as drivers battled #snow like this scene in #HighWycombe in the early hours... Many routes affected this morning, check before travel. pic.twitter.com/OOD66RLJBw
Some 30,000 homes and business are without power in Ireland, with the country still in shut-down mode as schools and public buildings remain closed and bus and rail services cancelled.
Met Eireann lifted its blizzard warning at 7.30am removing its advice that people remain indoors, but the red weather alert remains in place until 6pm with strong easterly winds for Munster, Leinster and County Galway.
RTE’s correspondent Ciaran Mullooly reporting “all roads” in the county “impassable” with up to three feet of snow in county Offaly in the midlands with exceptional snow drifts in Cork and Wexford in the south.
Michael McEvoy from the County Offaly Fire & Rescue services pictured in 3 feet of snow in the N52 at Durrow this morning . This road links Tullamore to the N6 Dublin to Galway motorway pic.twitter.com/qRbNSNENfm
@josefoshea #Snow plough on Barrack Street, #Cork. #CorkCity #Snowmageddon pic.twitter.com/yJOrxjjem7
The national forecaster said conditions remained treacherous in places with snow drifts and the risk of black ice.
In Northern Ireland 400 schools were closed and public transport also ground to a halt in some areas.
Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) president Barclay Bell told the Newsletter that the region appeared “divided”, with Armagh and Down bearing the brunt of the snow while some areas were untouched by the storm.
Tony Lacey in Wexford in the south of the country, which was badly affected by Storm Emma, posted video showing the build up of snow on the main shopping streets.
Wexford town got it bad. #StormEmma #beastfromtheeast #snow #ireland pic.twitter.com/uqgNXBfZmX
A man sustained “life changing injuries” after he fell awkwardly on his neck from a wall while taking photographs of the now in Cork.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Friday repeated the warning for people not to attempt to drive on roads.
“We’re still in state of red alert. It’s ok to go outside, but no unnecessary travel. The snow will continue to fall today,” he said.
“It’s going to take the weekend to get things back to normal.”
Most public transport services are still suspended with no flights from major airports with runways at Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock all remaining closed.
There will be no flights at Dublin airport but a spokeswoman said ice clearing crews were working hard to get themselves into “a good position for Saturday morning”.
Belfast Airport said it was “open and operational” but some flight had been cancelled.
Next stop Capel Street. I've always loved this vista up to City Hall, but I'd never seen it like this before... #Dublin #Ireland #Photography #sneachta #architecture #BeastFromTheEast pic.twitter.com/OmVrgQHkhS
Major incidents have been declared in Wiltshire Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and Hampshire, after hundreds of drivers were stranded on roads in the west country. The A303 was worst hit with drivers complaining of being stuck in their vehicles for 15 hours. Around 40 people including a baby were stuck on a bus from London stranded on the A303.
At least 9,000 households endured a night with out power. Electricity North West blamed outages affecting 5,000 homes in its area, on 100 separate faults on the network. Western Power said around 4,000 homes in south-west England and Wales were without power.
The military has been deployed to help clear snow-covered roads in and around Greater Manchester. The armed forces are also providing assistance in Lincolnshire, Edinburgh, Shropshire, and Devon.
The main hospital in Exeter has postponed all planned surgery and diagnostic appointments, due to the severe weather. An “Internal critical incident” has been declared by the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust.
South Western Railway has apologised to dozens of passengers who were stuck in trains overnight. A total of five trains were stranded overnight on the route between London and Weymouth, Network Rail said.
More than 1,250 flights to or from UK and Irish airports were cancelled on Friday.
Thousands of schools have closed. They include the majority of schools in Wales, 400 schools in Northern Ireland, and all 279 schools in Cornwall.
Flood warnings have been issued for parts of Cornwall’s south coast. At least five homes were flooded in Porthallow and the main rail line at Dawlish in Devon has been blocked by high tides and broken down trains.
Five people are so far known to have died in weather-related incidents. A homeless man, named locally as Ben, died while sleeping in freezing temperatures in a tent in Retford, Nottinghamshire. On Thursday, a seven-year-old girl died after a car crashed into a house in Looe, Cornwall; a 75-year-old woman was found dead in a street in Leeds; and a 46-year-old van driver died after a collision in Hampshire. A man who died on Wednesday in Welling, south-east London, was named as Stephen Cavanagh, 60.
Up to 4,000 guests at separate Center Parcs camps in Cumbria and Wiltshire have been urged to stay in their lodges because weather conditions make it too difficult to leave. Center Parcs has cancelled all of next week’s bookings at Longleat Forest in Wiltshire.
Around 40 people including a baby were stuck on a bus from London stranded on the A303, Avon and Somerset police have said.
A snowplough was used to free the bus and those on board are now on their way to Wincanton town hall, which the local authority has opened as a refuge centre.
The force said: “Conditions in Avon and Somerset remain treacherous. We continue to tell people don’t travel.
We currently have 20 significant incidents across Avon and Somerset with people stranded in snow drifts. There are on-going multi agency operations, which started overnight, continuing to help those who are stranded.
“We are currently in the process, as a matter of urgency, of rescuing people from two vehicles – one on Dunkery Beacon in west Somerset and another vehicle at Burrington Combe, north Somerset.”
Drivers reported being stuck for 17 hours on the A303 between Ilminster in Somerset and Mere in Wiltshire. Thomas Hamilton, a 36-year-old sales director, was heading from his home in London to a friend’s farm when he got caught in the queue.
“I left London at 6pm. We came to a standstill at the start of the A303 around midnight. There were lorries and cars in both lanes trying to get up the hill. We drove past a burned-out car, then we didn’t move until 9:30am.”
Hamilton, who was stuck only 10 miles from his destination, said he moved for the first time in hours this morning after “a soldier got out in a hi-vis jacket with another good Samaritan and moved lorries”.