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Anger after snow and ice 'chaos' hits Brighton

George Carden/BBC An elderly lady with short-cropped hair squints with the sun in her eyes.George Carden/BBC
Ms Clowser was forced to abandon her vehicle on Falmer Road

People have described nightmare scenes in and around Brighton after Wednesday's wintry weather, complaining that many roads and pavements had not been gritted.

Several key routes were affected by snow and ice on Wednesday evening, including the A23 and A27, and there were "multiple collisions" in parts of the city and surrounding area, Sussex Police said.

Pat Clowser said she was forced to abandon her vehicle on the Falmer Road - like many others across the region - as the situation there was "absolute chaos."

Brighton and Hove City councillor Trevor Muten apologised for the "difficulties" motorists faced.

'Very frightened'

A yellow weather warning for snow was in effect for the South East on Wednesday and a further warning for ice, which had been in place overnight, was lifted at 10:30 on Thursday.

"I could not believe the speed the snow came down," Ms Clowser told BBC Radio Sussex, saying that cars were sliding down the Falmer Road on Wednesday evening.

"I was frightened," she said.

Ms Clowser, who collected her car on Thursday morning, said a "lovely" paramedic called Tom stopped and offered her a lift.

Eddie Mitchell Abandoned cars are visible on roads dusted with snow and ice. Eddie Mitchell
Cars were still left abandoned at the side of the road on Thursday morning

Some schools were closed on Thursday, including Ticehurst and Flimwell and Netherfield primary schools.

Eve told BBC Radio Sussex it took more than six hours to get from Hollingbury to her home in Woodingdean on Wednesday night - usually a 20-minute journey.

She claimed Falmer Road was not gritted "at all", although she suggested there had been "conflicted information".

Eve added the situation was made more dangerous as people, including with children, had had to leave their vehicles and walk along roads in the dark.

Mr Muten told BBC Radio Sussex the local forecast on Wednesday had been for rain and the council does not grit in these conditions as the water washes it away.

Once it started to snow, the local authority "quickly" dispatched its gritters from 16:00 GMT, he added.

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