Thousands of people struggled to work in snow-blitzed Furness on February 6, 1996 in a major big freeze.

Many of them trudged into Barrow by foot, but others had to give in and stay at home.

At VSEL about 85 per cent of staff made it in. Spokesperson Mike Smith said: “A lot of people tried to get in by any means possible, even though it has caused them great difficulties.”

BLIZZARD: Stephen Davis sported some welder’s goggles as he walked up Abbey Road in Barrow on February 6, 1996

BLIZZARD: Stephen Davis sported some welder’s goggles as he walked up Abbey Road in Barrow on February 6, 1996

Long queues of people could be seen walking into Barrow through deep snow from early morning.

A Glaxo spokesperson said: “The staff are making heroic efforts to get in from as far away as Grange.”

Furness rail links were cut completely in the morning, with trains able to get only as far as Carnforth in one direction and Barrow in the other.

THROW: Barrow boys Ian Bland, 12, Graham Shaw, 14, and Nicholas Beach, 11, having fun in the snow

THROW: Barrow boys Ian Bland, 12, Graham Shaw, 14, and Nicholas Beach, 11, having fun in the snow

Transportation was held up and delays were predicted until the snow was gone and the tracks were no longer frozen.

Snow ploughs were trying to restore Millom services and open the line to Sellafield and Whitehaven and work was expected to unblock the Carnforth points.

Extra units were deployed to cope with the weather and their work was invaluable to the roads eventual reopening.

BUILD: Two-year-old Victoria donates her hat and four-year-old sister Rachael provides Opal Fruits as eyes for their snowman in Barrow Park

BUILD: Two-year-old Victoria donates her hat and four-year-old sister Rachael provides Opal Fruits as eyes for their snowman in Barrow Park

Gritters and snow ploughs run by Barrow Council were hard at work. Ian Dodsworth, chief engineer for the council, said they were holding their own on major routes ‘but only just’. Kendal to Barrow was passable with ‘extreme care’.

At Sellafield, 2,000 workers, including staff from Millom and Barrow, had slept the night on chairs or on the floor after giving up hope of getting home.

Trapped staff had been given free meals.

SWEEP: A workman tackles frozen points at Barrow on February 6, 1996

SWEEP: A workman tackles frozen points at Barrow on February 6, 1996

People who had left the plant by car for Whitehaven at lunchtime the previous day had taken eight hours to get home.

Many hotels around Furness and the South Lakes had to pull out all the stops to cope with extra guests stranded in the region by the atrocious road conditions.

At Chequers Motel, in Dalton, every room was taken the previous night but they still managed to find space for a snowbound couple from Askam, who spent the night sleeping in duvets in the TV lounge.