Dorset's early white Christmas 10 years ago

December 2, 2010 brought an early white Christmas for people in the area and caused a day of chaos on the roads and train services.

Drivers were forced to abandon their cars, with some losing control on the ice.

The major routes were gritted and cleared but minor roads remained dangerous and bus services were cancelled through the morning until conditions became safer.

Cars abandoned on Radipole Lane near Southill, Weymouth

Many schools remained closed and children took advantage of the rare sight of snow in south Dorset by getting their sledges out or building snowmen and playing.

Weymouth Esplanade covered in snow

Weymouth town centre in the snow

Radipole Lane was closed in Southill after a lorry lost traction and got stuck in what police called ‘very thick ice’ close to the shops and the John Gregory pub.

The lorry was quickly recovered but cars were left abandoned on the side of the road on the other side of the hill close to Radipole village.

Residents also reported cars skidding down Spa Road close to the bridge over Weymouth Way.

Two lorries with tanks on the back were among the vehicles to get stuck on sheet ice at Clouds Hill in Bovington.

Multiple collisions occurred as cars slid down the sheet ice on the hill but nobody was injured. The road was closed when police declared the road ‘impassable’ from Gallows Hill to the turning for Monkey World.

There was also chaos in nearby Crossways.

And the police reported ‘treacherous’ conditions in Hospital Lane in Bridport and the main road out of Lyme Regis.

Dorset Police said there were no reports of any serious injuries as the disruption continued into the afternoon.

A resident of Canberra Road at Littlemoor, described conditions outside as ‘treacherous’ and said he had witnessed two collisions.

Problems were experienced on the A35 near Askerswell in the afternoon where drivers reported snow blowing heavily across both carriageways.

A farmer in his tractor came to the rescue of vehicles snowed in and blocking the road at Piddlehinton.

Roads were said to be hazardous around Corfe Castle and Studland, although passable with extreme care.

Two vehicles were in collision at Loders in West Dorset with both drivers escaping unhurt.

Recovery was required for a lorry stuck in Pymore Road at Bridport. Larger vehicles were unable to get through until the obstruction was cleared.

Two vehicles were in collision in Verne Hill Road on Portland. The drivers, who were not injured, abandoned their cars because of the snow.

Vehicles were reported sliding on ice at Winterborne Whitechurch while others were stuck at Winterbourne Abbas and Litton Cheney.

A gritter lorry ran into problems near Dorchester when it broke down and had to be towed to safety.

Dorchester resident Clive Cook spotted the stricken vehicle near the Kingston Maurward roundabout.

Snow plough and gritter on Radipole Lane, Weymouth

South West Trains had a reduced service with significant disruption across their network.

Trains between Wool and Weymouth were stopped during morning.

While passengers waited for trains to run they were given free tea and coffee on the platform at Weymouth.

Weatherman Bob Poots said that the snowy conditions were the worst Weymouth had seen for many years.

He said: “It’s been about 15 years since the snow was this bad. We had 5cm overnight.

“We had quite a deep snowfall in 1994-1995 but we don’t normally get snow like this.

Clearing snow and ice on St Mary Street, Weymouth

Mellstock Avenue, Dorchester Picture courtesy of David Reeve

“The two bad winters of 1947 and 1963 both had their first snow fall about November 20."

Snow on the King's Statue, Weymouth

Snowmen on Weymouth Esplanade

He added: “Although it’s snowing it’s not that cold. The lowest air temperature we have had was minus two degrees.

“The ground temperature has been lower, at minus five in Weymouth and minus eight in Bincombe. It has been very unseasonable weather for Dorset.”