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UK armed forces thanked for snow efforts

Published on: 12 Mar 2018

Britain’s armed forces stepped up to assist the emergency services during last week’s extreme weather.

Few areas of the UK were unaffected as the ‘Beast from the East’ joined forces with storm Emma to dish out some of the worst weather witnessed in Britain for years.

As a result, the military used vehicles and personnel to transport essential NHS staff to hospitals and vulnerable people across communities.

Local police forces also received help from the military, assisting those stranded on motorways and using aircraft to transport supplies to areas cut off by the snow.

In total, 328 military personnel from across all forces were involved in helping with the snow response, as well as 124 4x4 vehicles.

Defence secretary Gavin Williamson last week met with soldiers from 1 Royal Irish, who were carrying out vital work transporting health workers in the Shropshire area, which was hit by heavy snow.

“Our armed forces are doing an incredible job up and down the country, helping the emergency services, local authorities and the NHS supporting those in need,” he commented.

“I pay tribute to their professionalism, dedication and sense of duty. They are proving once again that Britain can always depend on our troops to protect us no matter the time, no matter the place and no matter the problem.”