Community spirit meant the traffic kept flowing in Dereham this morning. A large lorry got stuck on Swaffham Road, but, thanks to the help of locals armed with shovels and a bit of brute force, it was shifted from where it had got stuck.

Community spirit meant the traffic kept flowing in Dereham this morning.

A large lorry got stuck on Swaffham Road, but, thanks to the help of locals armed with shovels and a bit of brute force, it was shifted from where it had got stuck.

Bev Baxter, from Quebec Road, was out with a shovel helping clear the road, which cars and lorries were getting stuck on. His wife Wendy also helped a woman who lived in a flat and was struggling to get down her outdoor steel stairs.

Bob Everett and his son Jonny, of Everett and Son printers, were out helping cars moving too using sand to try and create traction.

Steve Charlton, of Sandy Lane, helped to direct traffic up Quebec Road the wrong side of the bollard as cars were getting stuck if the drove up the steep hill.

At about 9.30am a gritter lorry made a circuit of the area helping break up the compacted snow. A second turned up minutes later.

But those helping the cars and other vehicles said if there was a grit bin on the corner people would be able to get out there and clear the road earlier.

Mr Baxter said: 'We have helped over 15 cars up the hill this morning including a lorry. If we had a box of grit here we could get on and clear it.'

Mr Charlton said he came out each year to help as there were always problems. Last year ice on Quebec Road at the junction with Swaffham Road meant cars kept sliding backwards into traffic.

In general fewer cars were out today as people headed warnings not to drive in the snowy conditions. Dereham was much quieter than normal but children appeared to be enjoying the snow.

t Bin collections in some areas of Breckland have been affected because of the snow.

Bin collections in some areas of Breckland have also been affected because of the snow.

A Breckland Council spokesman said due the adverse weather conditions wheeled bin collections across the district had been severely disrupted.

'Please be aware that we are doing all we can to get the service back on track,' she said. 'In the meantime please leave your wheeled bin out for collection.'