HEAVY snowfalls during the night and early in the morning brought Okehampton to a standstill yesterday (Wednesday).

Although perhaps not as bad as other parts of West Devon, three to four inches of snow covered the town and surrounding area.

The Okehampton to Hatherleigh road was blocked due to the conditions and police were advising for drivers not to travel on the main Tavistock — Okehampton A386 road.

A lorry jack-knived, due to icy roads, on the main A30 road near Whiddon Down.

David Weekes, the mayor of Okehampton, said yesterday: 'The town is at a standstill, it's really bad.

'There must have been three or four inches of snow last night and it's still snowing.

'All the roads out of Okehampton are mostly blocked so you could say we are cut off at the moment.

'We just have to take the weather as it comes and hope it will soon get better.'

He said that with West Devon Borough Council and the Highways Agency doing all they could in the situation, there was not much Okehampton Town Council could do to help — however if the situation became desperate and motorists became stranded, the council would be prepared to open up the Charter Hall in an emergency.

With people reluctant to go out unless necessary the streets of Okehampton were nearly deserted yesterday.

Traders in the town have already been hit after traffic hold-ups in the town.

For the past three months the Highway Agency, at a cost of around £80,000, has been installing new traffic lights in the town to try and improve traffic flow, but while the works were carried out it had caused delays for motorists.

Some people from outlying areas even stayed away from the town to avoid the hold ups.

Mr Weekes added: 'I feel for the traders at the moment as there is hardly anyone shopping in the town centre.

'The town has just got over from having to wait for the traffic light problem to be sorting out and now this with the snow.'

He said though that those who made it to the shops were buying up stocks of milk and bread.

Mr Weekes had tried all the supermarkets in the town and they were sold out although he did eventually manage to buy a loaf at a garage.

Ian Bailey of Ink Print in Station Road and the chairman of Okehampton and District Chamber of Trade, said when he came to work, Fore Street was deserted.

He was keeping fingers crossed the weather gets back to normal soon.

'We just have to make the most of it. In this weather there is not much we can do at the moment, so I just hope it soon reverts to normality,' he said.

Most schools in the Okehampton area were closed yesterday due to the snow.

Sgt Dave Anning of West Devon Police said in general, people appeared to be showing sense regarding their attempts to take their cars onto the snow-clogged streets.

'To be honest, it's just downright dangerous to try and drive a car in these conditions, there's no two ways about it, and most people are being sensible,' said Sgt Anning.

'As far as the police station is concerned, we've only got a limited amount of four-wheel drive vehicles, so we can't send too many people out.

'Police officers are working from the stations nearest to them and that seems to be working reasonably well.

'If we need to we can call on the Dartmoor Rescue Group, who have a 4x4, for extra help.'

Sgt Anning re-iterated the warning that if people did have to go out in their cars, to make sure they had plenty of petrol, warm clothes, a fully-charged mobile phone, a shovel and a hot drink with them.

He added: 'It's astounding how many people will set out without these things, but they are really, really important.'

The cold weather is forecast to continue until at least Monday next week.