AN ARMY of snow heroes has emerged triumphant from Macclesfield’s Arctic conditions.
Adversity brought out the best in dad-of-four Paul Laughton, 38, of Warren Drive, Gawsworth, who rallied his drinking pals to save his village from the snow.
When Paul saw his neighbours slipping, sliding and struggling in their cars, he gathered Mick Goodier, David Earls, Michael Rowlinson and farmer Martin Whelton to help clear the village footpaths, roads and even the school playground.
Paul, whose firm KHOL Groundcare provides commercial grounds maintenance, supplied his truck and trailer for the ice fight.
He said: "I have the equipment so if anyone is going to help in the village I am.
"I did the church steps and down by the bungalows because there are a lot of elderly people there.
"Then I got phone calls off people asking to do the Methodist church, car parks and the school.
"There were people shouting at me at one point because they thought I was the council and I was only doing half a job!"
Gawsworth preacher Bishop William Pwaisiho said: "We are very thankful, he really, really helped us.
"It is a really wonderful example of community spirit, he saw we needed some helped and did what he could."
And Paul and his mates weren’t the only knights in snowy armour.
Men, women and children on Sherwood Road, Macclesfield, all rolled up their sleeves to make it easier for residents and motorists to pass through their street.
Resident Paul Tann said: "With the local council not gritting side roads and with no grit available to buy, the residents of Sherwood Road pulled together to clear the road themselves after the snow."
Doing his bit to keep Siddington’s roads clear was grandfather-of-seven Brian Wain, of Blackhouse Farm, who called upon his trusty 20-year-old snow plough to tackle the snow.
He said: "There are a lot of roads for the council to get through so I often help them out when I can, it makes sense when I have the equipment, it does the job.
"I have a snow plough that I attach to the front of the tractor and go out and clear a few roads for them, and when I can’t do it, my sons help."
Tytherington High School headteacher Andy Robinson was so determined to clear the grounds that he hired in an independent contractor to get the job done – and brandished his own shovel to help them out.
And it worked – the school was among the first to re-open.
