SNOWED-in residents had to be dug out of a row of remote rural cottages in Horwich.

Huge drifts of snow along Brinks Row, Lock Lane and Old Rake Lane meant people were stranded for three days until Bolton Council diggers cleared the roads on Monday.

Worried neighbours at the row of eight cottages called on the council for help when they became increasingly concerned about elderly residents.

Some of the snow drifts were between five and six feet high.

Dick Frost, aged 66, of Brinks Row, said: “Everyone who lives up here has been completely cut off. My wife and I had been away on holiday and our neighbour text us to say we wouldn’t be able to get up to the house by car.

“We had to park the car down in Horwich and then walk up. The lanes were completely blocked by these huge snow drifts. We just all had to sit tight and see what happened with the council.”

People were forced to walk down the steep footpaths to Horwich to buy food until council gritters arrived.

It took JCB drivers five hours to clear the narrow route up to the cottages, which had also been blocked by an abandoned four wheel drive.

Judith Harrison, also of Brinks Row, said: “I’m an active person so I’ve been able to walk down but some of our neighbours are older and not able to get out. Also, if some had needed an ambulance they wouldn’t have been able to get up here.”

Allan Greenhalgh, aged 69, also Brinks Row, said: “It was a very anxious time for all the residents because we were told by the council they could only come up in the event of an emergency but we were trying to prevent an emergency.

I’ve lived here for 20 years and this is the worst snow I’ve ever seen up here.”

Flurries of snow were still sweeping across the cottages throughout the week and it has not thawed.

The UK is already on course for the coldest March since 1970, compared to the third warmest March on record last year. Cllr David Chadwick, Bolton Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport said: “The snow drifts were so deep around the properties that the snow could have taken over a week to thaw out naturally.

“Our first priority is to keep the road network clear but once this was under control we were able to help these vulnerable residents who were unable to help themselves. I would like to thank the officers who helped in this situation, as they went over and above their normal duties and worked in difficult conditions.”

● The weekend is set to remain very cold, but dry.