THE snow caused big problems for two businesses in Malvern Wells, who say they lost thousands of pounds in trade while roads were unpassable over the weekend.

John Pattin, owner of the Cottage in the Wood hotel, in Holywell Road, said he lost almost his entire weekend’s business, costing him £8,000.

Only three residential guests and two dinner guests made it to the Cottage in the Wood over the weekend and Mr Pattin is calling for more grit bins to help keep things moving.

“It’s probably left us about £8,000 out of pocket and that's during the lowest-earning month of the year and the worst for cashflow,” he said.

“For the past four years I've been asking for more bins. Where I live in Herefordshire, we've got grit bins all the way up the lane, so if Herefordshire Council can manage it, why can't Worcestershire?”

Rhys Humm, of the Holywell Water Company, said his staff found it nearly impossible to drive up the steep road to get to work at the bottling plant.

Both were angry that not enough rock salt had been put down on Holywell Road to keep it open.

Mr Humm made an appeal for help via Twitter on Monday and, after your Malvern Gazette contacted Worcestershire County Council, a gritter was sent out that afternoon.

Mr Humm said: “Unfortunately the snow plough broke down at the top of the road due to a hydraulic failure, but, after a couple of hours was fixed.”

He added that he was impressed how quickly the council acted once it had been contacted.

County highways manager Jon Fraser said: “Whilst we can’t make a special case for anyone, if we're informed of a particular problem we’ll aim to get to that road to investigate and see what we can do to help.”

Mr Fraser’s week has been spent overseeing a round-the-clock gritting and ploughing operation that has seen crews put down more than 4,000 tonnes of salt and cover well over 16,000 miles.

Despite many routes receiving double the normal amount of salt, Mr Fraser said there is still an ample supply to keep the county’s 1,233 grit bins full.