SHOP staff have thanked a nearby firm for shipping in vital supplies at the height of the “beast from the east” .
Scott Wallace and driver Martin Robinson, from Middleton Forge, braved the worst of the winter blast to deliver food to Middleton-in-Teesdale’s Co-op earlier this month. The call was sent out via a family friend for assistance and the Forge’s flatbed truck was called into the fold to get a delivery from Barnard Castle.
“It only took a couple of hours through the drifts,” said Mr Wallace. “I don’t think I’ve seen it as bad as that.”
Mr Robinson added: “It was bad on the way down there – you couldn’t see at all.
“There were a lot of cars stuck on Whistle Crag and Windy Hill – it was also bad at the old Eggleston Show field corner.”
Villagers were waiting outside the shop once the delivery arrived after they’d got through the atrocious conditions. “We were surprised how many people were waiting outside,” added Mr Wallace.
Store manager Shaun McGrath thanked the Forge for braving the weather to restock their shelves. He said: “We’re a tight knit community at the best of times and the extreme weather conditions have highlighted our community spirit so perfectly.
“It’s been incredible to see how people have pulled together to help life continue as normal, as much as possible.”
