Families rescued in Peak District and Cheshire after being stranded in snow

Some visitors to the area were caught off-guard by how quickly the weather changed, officials say

A snowy scene near Mam Tor in the Peak District, Derbyshire (PA)

Nearly two dozen people including a toddler have been rescued from snowed–in rural parts of northern England.

Police and volunteers came to the aid of people whose vehicles were stuck in the Peak District on Saturday, where heavy snow and freezing temperatures were seen on 2 January.

Police spent three hours helping families stuck in their vehicles in the White Peak area.

In total 22 people, including eight children – the youngest of whom was two - were recovered from nine vehicles.

Cheshire Police’s rural crime team said: "The snow had well and truly caught them all out on the back roads.

"We were three miles from the nearest village, and the light was fading on us quickly.

"It was decided to get everyone out of their cars and so began a mile walk in the snow."

The force was critical of the families for travelling into the area, which is under tier 4 coronavirus restrictions.

It said: "All except one car was from out of Cheshire. We had people from Sale, Stockport and Salford with the closest being Congleton.

"Sadly these people have put all of us at risk today."

At about 2pm on Saturday, Derbyshire Police separately reported "sudden snow" had left dozens of vehicles and their occupants stuck in the Goyt Valley.

Some visitors to the area were caught off–guard by how quickly the weather changed.

Derbyshire Police posted on Twitter: "We are shuttling people back to Buxton as quickly as we can. Sit tight and we will get to you."

The A57 Snake Pass – a road notorious for becoming dangerous in the snow - had been closed earlier in the day because of the weather.

The wintery conditions are predicted to continue, with a yellow Met Office warning for ice in the East Midlands, North East, and Scotland.