Snow hero farmers praised after coming to rescue of Suffolk motorists

A farming co-operative boss who got stuck in the snow as the Beast from the East gripped Suffolk has praised farmers for their efforts in helping out stranded motorists.

On Thursday (March 1), farmer Richard Scott came to the rescue after Fram Farmers chief executive got lodged in a snowdrift while driving through Hestley Green, near Eye, at 7.30am.

The following day (Friday, March 2), farmer Tom Boden towed a van driver whose vehicle hit another snow drift near Debenham.

“I was out with the shovel again until Tom arrived in his tractor,” said Richard, who arrived at the scene and called Tom, who is a member of the farming co-op, along with Richard.

Richard said he wanted ot thank the many other farmers clearing rural lanes.

“The county’s farmers have, on a voluntary basis, done a superb job clearing roads, towing stranded vehicles out onto a passable road, off their own bat, with good humour and often in the darkness of the early hours of the morning.

“This is public spirit at its finest. This morning at 7:30am I came across a van stuck in a snow drift near Debenham and was helping dig him out when a local farmer arrived with his tractor, pulled him out and also told us about the local road network, where there were problems, and the best route to try.

“I know the farmer, and he told me that he had helped over 50 vehicles over 24 hours.

“Without such widespread help from our farmers many of the rural roads would be impassable.

“It took me two hours and 10 minutes this morning to travel into work, whereas it normally takes 25 minutes. Without Tom and the army of farmer volunteers, I would not have made it to work at all.”