Milkman's miracle escape as snow crushes van roof

Fall from roof of old brewery also caves in windscreen

* Extensive damage to the exterior of Mr Rogers' van.

* The smashed-in roof of the van.

* The snow-filled interior of the van.

A milkman had a miraculous escape when a huge load of melting snow fell from a roadside building and completely crushed the roof of his delivery van.

Anthony Rogers, 58, had just finished his morning round in Ellesmere Port on the Wirral and was driving his Fiat Scudo home to Glyndyfrdwy along the A5 in Llangollen when the drama began at around 1pm on Tuesday.

Mr Rogers (pictured left) said: “I’d just stopped to fill up the van with fuel at a local garage and was driving along the A5 when I reached a spot where there is a large derelict building, which I think was once a brewery, on the left hand side.

“All of a sudden there was an explosion as if the van had been hit by a wrecking ball.

“The windscreen collapsed inwards and the broken glass cut my hand in about seven or eight places. The cab then filled up with snow.

“I just sat there for a few minutes not knowing what had happened, then I pulled myself together and started scooping away the snow with my hands so I could undo my seat belt.”

Anthony, who has been a milkman for the past 27 years, added: “No-one stopped to help and just went on their merry way. A couple of cars even swerved right around me.

“I eventually managed to get out of the van and go to the nearby garage, Kenrick Motors. They were very helpful.

“The whole roof of the vehicle had collapsed around me due to the weight of the snow that fell on it and the garage tells me it is now a write-off.

“I was just very very lucky to get out of it with just a few cuts on my hand. It could have been a lot worse.

“The amazing part is that I had some stock left in the van and despite what happened not one pint bottle was broken or a single egg smashed.

“Since it happened I haven’t lost a day on deliveries because the van that was damaged was just my back-up one which I was using because it handles better in the snow.”  

Council warns about risk from lying snow

Denbighshire county council is urging residents and visitors to be aware of the continued risk of lying snow and any snow remaining on roofs of buildings and on high structures 

A spokesman for Denbighshire County Council said: "We have issued warnings to members of the public to be aware of the continued risk of lying snow and any snow remaining on roofs of buildings and on high structures. 

"An unprecedented amount of snow has fallen in recent times, in particular in the south Denbighshire area.  With the snow now starting to thaw, we would urge people to remain vigilant as there may be certain movements of snow that may occur without warning."

The council says it has been working tirelessly to clear as many of the county's roads as possible and treating pavements in town centres but adds: "Inevitably there is snow in locations which the council cannot clear."

Avalanche alert in parts of Llangollen

The Leader is reporting today that there is an avalanche alert in Llangollen and tons of snow start to thaw and move.

See the full story at http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/121345/avalanche-alert-in-llangollen-as-ice-mountain-starts-to-melt.aspx#.UVv_KYCsTsA.facebook

The Geraint still under snow

Readers are still sending in pictures of snow scenes.

The latest have come from Diane Slater and show the views around where she lives on the Geraint.

She said: "The snow has been devastating here but it is still a beautiful place."

Cemetery checks to be carried out at Fron Bache

Headstone and monument safety checks will be carried out by the county council at Fron Bache Cemetery in Llangollen later this month.

The exercise is part of investigations at council lowned cemeteries across Denbighshire during the month.

Advisory notices will be placed at memorials that require attention and the council says every effort will be made to contact the families to arrange any necessary repairs.

In exceptional circumstances any memorials deemed to be in a dangerous condition may be laid down prior to contact being made with the grave contact or family.

Take care of your property say police

North Wales Police are urging residents living in rural areas to take steps to protect their property.

 

Thieves often target garages, outbuildings and sheds, especially if they are left insecure, or have locks that can be easily forced.

 

In an effort to prevent and detect crimes, North Wales Police are asking people to consider;

 

• Signing up to OWL, the Online Watch Link which passes relevant information onto members quickly and safely.  Information may include recent crimes in your area and handy security tips. www.owl.co.uk/northwales

 

·        Joining Neighbourhood Watch. This one of the biggest and most successful crime prevention schemes. It builds community spirit and good relations helping people to tackle crime and disorder and to keep an eye on each other's property.  Contact your local PCSO on 101.

·        CCTV. Let us know if you have private CCTV.  You may be able to assist us with crime inquiries in your area.

·        Provide information about the handling of stolen goods. Any information will be treated as confidential and your details will not be disclosed.

 

Please contact your Local Neighbourhood Policing Team for information on securing your property.  

Bedroom tax will be "devastating", says Sargeant

 

Wales' new Housing Minister Carl Sargeant (pictured above) says the cut in housing benefit for tenants with spare bedrooms will have a "devastating impact" on many poorer households across Wales and that public services face a testing time as they struggle to cope with the fallout.

 

The so called ‘bedroom tax’, imposed by the UK Government from 1 April, means that tenants of council or housing association accommodation who are on housing benefit will be assessed for the number of bedrooms they actually need and those ruled to have too much space will receive a reduced payment.

Carl Sargeant said: “Research shows that around 40,000 households in Wales will lose an average of £11 per week from this change and, sadly, it is many of the most vulnerable people in society who will be affected.

 

“The Welsh Government is committed to doing all it can to ensure that the change does the least possible damage to our communities. However, we are under no illusion.

 

“We know that people will suffer hardship and this will put even more pressure on public services that are already straining to cope due to the current financial climate.

 

“We have allocated funding for 2013/14 to ensure that people on low income continue to receive council tax benefit.

 

"We are also providing £750,000 for the coming financial year to help on issues such as advice, landlord liaison and face to face contact with tenants having problems meeting their housing costs.

 

“We were also able to allocate some additional funding towards the end of the financial year to a number of projects focused on preventing homelessness, including extra resources for the homelessness prevention funds of all local authorities.    

 

“Also, several local authorities have joined together to undertake projects that reduce the rate of tenancy failure and put in place solutions that tenants say they prefer.    

 

“The Welsh Government is hugely concerned that many already hard pressed households are facing hardship and so is looking to find ways of supporting tenants and organisations to mitigate the effects of this highly damaging policy."