'Biblical' snow forces 40 people to sleep in pub overnight after abandoning their cars

Around 40 people including babies and children were forced to abandon their cars and head for a pub overnight as heavy snow hit.

The landlord rushed around to find mattresses for the youngsters to sleep and provided hot drinks and place to keep warm.

Dr Alexandra Loske, a curator at Brighton's Royal Pavilion, was one of them sheltering at the Bear Inn near Burwash in East Sussex.

She described the scene as "biblical".

Having abandoned her car on the A265 at about 5pm on Sunday, after Dr Locke said the situation there became "very scary".

Many people had broken down, she said, while other cars were simply stuck and vehicles were "sliding everywhere".

She set off with about five families to find shelter, but the first pub they found eventually asked them to leave.

She told BBC Radio Sussex: "It was a long night and quite scary but we made so many good friends and met so many lovely and kind people. We are safe and warm.

"It was absolutely amazing, log fires going, open arms, free food, free hot drinks, they put us all up."

She tweeted: "Stranded and snowed in near Burwash since 5pm, and we all got kicked out of the first pub.

"A 2-mile treck through the snow to The Bear Inn, which has taken in dozens of people and is staying open all night.

"Hot drinks, logfires, mattresses for children. Human kindness."

The south east was blanketed with snow (Getty Images)

And this morning she updated with: "Good morning from Sussex. A bit snowy here.

"Around 40 of us were taken in by the lovely people at The Bear Inn at Burwash. Pauline, Justin and their team looked after us stranded souls. Big shout out to them."

Tom Buckley from Bexhill also found refuge in the pub. He said: "I got stuck on a hill just outside Burwash, got towed up the hill and dug out by the local vicar, who was a hero.

Cars were stuck across roads and motorways (PA)

"He offered us a place to stay [but] we went to the Bear Inn who gave us a room.

"Every room was full, people sleeping in the bar. Those people couldn't be any nicer."

The UK Health Security Agency issued a cold weather alert until Friday, and is encouraging people to stay warm and look out for those most at risk.