CARS abandoned in the snow could block ambulance crews heading out to emergency calls, the ambulance service has warned.

Michelle Ullett, communications manager for South Central Ambulance Service, said: “The service is finding that a great deal of people are abandoning their vehicles on the side of the road and choosing to walk without thinking about the locations of their vehicles in the road.

“SCAS understand that these are very unusual weather conditions for the South of England however it is vitally important as roads blocked by vehicles hinder emergency vehicles from proceeding on their journey to medical emergencies.”

Volunteers from St John Ambulance have mobilised its six crewed ambulances to help the SCAS.