The early part of the year is often a time when Furness has witnessed some very wintry conditions.

On February 23, 1994, the Furness peninsula and Millom were cut off as driving snow blocked road and rail links with the rest of Britain.

TOPPED OFF: Stephanie and Robert Blackburn, aged three, with their snowman Sammy in Barrow in February 1994

TOPPED OFF: Stephanie and Robert Blackburn, aged three, with their snowman Sammy in Barrow in February 1994

Roads to the Dalton bypass became blocked by abandoned vehicles and the A590 link with the M6 was closed at Newby Bridge.

The A595 was impassable for the whole of its length, from Greenodd to Ravenglass. Millom was snowed in when roads from The Green and Silecroft became too dangerous to travel.

But, despite the chaos, some people managed to defeat the weather.

BUILD: A photograph from The Mail’s archives, believed to have been taken in the early 1990s, with three to- five-year-olds of Walney Central playgroup and their snowman

BUILD: A photograph from The Mail’s archives, believed to have been taken in the early 1990s, with three to- five-year-olds of Walney Central playgroup and their snowman

Ulverston shopkeeper Irene Thompson became a Good Samaritan by donning skis to get urgent shopping for a 75-year-old disabled widow, at Trinity Gardens.

Winfield’s shoe shop, in Cavendish Street, Barrow, struggled to keep up with the huge demand for Wellington boots.

Manageress Linda Taylor said staff sold 260 pairs that day. They normally sold 50 pairs a week and snow news were good news as far as sledge sales were concerned for Ulverston sports shops proprietor Eddie Sharp.

BUILT: Two youngsters with a giant snowman in February 1994

BUILT: Two youngsters with a giant snowman in February 1994

He said: “We’ve certainly sold quite a few. And we’ve got another 30 on order coming in tomorrow to keep up with demand.”

One of the dangers of the bad weather was that new-borambs stranded in outlying fields on Furness farms could be at risk, said the Secretary of the National Farmers Union in Ulverston and Cartmel, Tom Hodgson.

“The snow’s been causing major problems for the region’s farmers,” he said.

BULLSEYE: Two youngsters enjoying a snowball fight in Furness in February 1994

BULLSEYE: Two youngsters enjoying a snowball fight in Furness in February 1994

“It’s lambing time at present and the ewes are usually out in the fields. But because of the snow farmers are having to bring them inside - that’s if they can reach them.”

Barrow Savoyards proved true to the showbusiness adage that ‘the show must go on’ to stage their third performance of Iolanthe at Forum 28.

The musical director and four members of the orchestra could not get through on the night and the chorus was four members down.