A rural resilience group launched by a local council proved to be a lifeline for stranded residents during the snow.

The Community Resilience Group was set up by Lincolnshire County Council to help in the delivery of essential medication.

It also responded to urgent calls for assistance throughout the county as part of on-going multi-agency response operations from the County Emergency Centre and Police and Fire HQ.

    See also: Supporting older residennts during severe weather

The group brought together police, emergency planners, military, local authorities and volunteers.

It was available from 9am until 6pm and anyone needing assistance was asked to contact a local helpline.

The combination of heavy snow falls and strong winds brought by Storm Emma caused drifts, making some rural area impassable.

    Help available

The CRG has been established due to the number of residents experiencing real difficulty.

Ian Reed, the council's head of emergency planning, said: "This group has been established because we identified a need in some areas that have been cut off due to snow.

"We now know there are some communities that have been hit hard and transportation in or out has been made extremely difficult.

"This group is there to assist if people can’t get essential medication or if there is an urgent need for help."

    Urgent calls

Mr Reed said the service was only be used for urgent calls for vulnerable people that required essential medication deliveries not possible due to snow.

"Communities are still encouraged to be good neighbours and check on anyone that may require assistance,” he added.

“We have identified a real need in rural communities so we are trying to deliver the help where it is needed.

"We have already been assisted enormously in those areas by the farming community with tractors and other equipment who have come to the rescue on a number of occasions and continue to do so allowing our resources to be used in areas of most need.”