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Bleak House has a happy ending

Sue Carr
24/ 1/2007

BLEAK House became open house on Sunday night when motorists got stranded on Woodhead Pass.

Advertiser wildlife columnist Sean Wood, whose house is named after the Dickens novel, had to turn his attention to drivers caught in snowstorms near his Crowden home.

Sean said: "I haven't seen snow like it on Woodhead for years - there was about five inches in two hours.

"I drove half-a-mile to visit a friend - I was only there for half an hour and had to abandon the car and walk back.

"The traffic was completely gridlocked and it must have been like that all the way across."

Sean invited motorists into Bleak House - the only property for miles around - and spent three hours brewing up and letting people use his toilet.

The good Samaritan added: "I made a few drinks and my little girl counted 25 ladies who came to use the loo!"

Woodhead, along with the Snake Pass, was among many routes across the region which were cut off by the sudden snowfall.

Derbyshire Police were inundated with calls from drivers and walkers across the county who were caught out by the weather.

Snow ploughs and gritters cleared the main roads and 4x4 police patrols were sent to reach stranded cars.