In Pontefract, Council workmen were employed throughout Wednesday night and Thursday morning with the snowploughs, clearing the roads and spreading sand and grit. No real traffic hold-ups occurred in the borough. Early yesterday, a bus skidded when turning from Pontefract Road, Purston, into Station Lane, and knocked down a lamp standard. It was driven by Kenneth Wainwright, of Rookhill Road, Pontefract. Traffic jams occurred at Southgate and Front Street, Pontefract, on Friday evening, which were caused by icy roads and the police were occupied for two hours dealing with them. At Southgate about six heavy vehicles, including buses, were unable to climb the hill from Baghill Station Lane to the bottom of Gillygate. The trouble began at about 8.30, and it was not until ashes and sand had been obtained by the police from nearby houses that the hold up was cleared at about 9.30. From Southgate the police were called to Front Street where over 20 vehicles, again including buses, could not ascend the hill into town. Smaller vehicles were able to make detours along Watergate and the Headlands, or Halfpenny Lane, but the heavy vehicles were delayed for over an hour until the road could be gritted and sanded. Castleford’s dose of snow was a heavy one, but extra labour called in by the Council quickly made its mark, and by noon yesterday the centre of the town had been largely cleared and motorists and pedestrians experienced little inconvenience.

Darrington people who work in Pontefract had to walk to work yesterday morning when the 8.30am bus did not arrive. The snow plough was also working all night in villages east of Knottingley, and although road conditions were still bad yesterday morning, the Pontefract to Goole and Pontefract to Whitley Bridge buses were able to take the normal route through Beal and Kellington. There were heavy snowdrifts in most villages, but the roads were not impassable.