SUPERMARKET staff in Cwmbran were struggling to cope today with the unexpected crowds of shoppers, looking to beat tomorrow's forecast of heavy snow across Gwent.

By 9am, there were shoppers at every check-out in Asda, with people also queuing to use the self-service tills.

Half an hour later, the queues at the check-outs in Sainsbury's were five or six deep, blocking aisles, with many people choosing to do their big weekly shop a day or two earlier than usual.

As tannoy announcements apologised for the delays and assured that every till possible was now manned, the mood in the queues was good-humoured.

"I always shop on a Thursday morning. I'm usually in and out in a few minutes," said one woman, who did not wish to be named.

Another, with a big trolley of shopping, said: "I wasn't going to bother, but then I saw (from the town centre) how busy the car park was getting, and thought I'd better."

It seemed the worry wasn't the light snowfall that fell from around 7am to midday today, but the worry caused by the forecast for tomorrow.

Petrol stations are also much busier than normal, with vehicles using the BP garage on Malpas Road, Newport, queuing back from the pumps almost onto the road.