It's snow joke as Larne freezes over - yet again

Residents first felt the chill last Thursday morning - but the icy weather in the town at that stage was the exception rather than the rule, as other parts of the borough completely escaped the snowfall.

Not a single snowflake was to be seen on the A8, and even more bizarrely, Shanes Hill Road was also left untouched. But it was a different story as soon as motorists entered Larne, as it seemed the town was in a different climate zone.

Conditions in parts of the town were impassable, with some drivers forced to abandon their vehicles until the snow melted later in day.

The snow continued over the weekend and led to major traffic disruption on Sunday. The A8 carriageway from Larne harbour was heavily congested with lorries due to the icy conditions, with police advising motorists of delays and asking those arriving for ferries to allow extra time for their journey.

Residents of various parts of the town reported that they had extreme difficulty in travelling just the shortest of distances.

East Antrim Sinn Fein spokesman Oliver McMullan said the A8 leaving Larne should be given priority by the Roads Service during icy conditions.

He added: “The A8 is the main artery out of Larne for HGVs, and the Roads Service should ensure it has been gritted to prevent tailbacks like this from happening. Time is vital for these lorries and when they are delayed, money is lost.”