AFTER a week of disruptions, the worst of the snow looks to be over but we nowface the possibility of heavy rain, gale force winds and localised flooding as it begins to melt.

Gwent is recovering from a week of snow-related problems, with one Cwmbran man having to be pulled on his son’s sledge to an ambulance at Greenmeadow.

Jason Needs, 42, had a number of epileptic fits around 1.30am on Monday, with wife Caroline phoning 999.

However, two ambulances failed to get through snowup Fairhill, with paramedics spending two hours trying to get Mr Needs – who cut his head during his fit – into their vehicles.

In the end they placed him on six-year-old Oscar’s sledge. Mrs Needs said: “They were absolutely amazing and went way above the call of duty, falling over several times in the snow as they tried to get here.”

Mr Needs was in hospital by 4.30am, where he stayed for 14 hours being checked out and having his cut head treated.

Parents, grandparents and school staff worked hard yesterday clearing paths in snow leading to Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School. The group of 20 worked for an hour to make sure that children could safely make it to school.

Carers from St David’s Hospice also walked around three miles through the snow to ensure they got to their patients.

Ebbw Vale-based forecaster Jonathan Powell of Vantage Weather Services said that following a sharp frost overnight, there will be up to three inches of snowon higher ground today (Friday), but this will turn to heavy rain with gale force winds over the weekend.

A few schools were still finding it difficult yesterday, such as Trinant Primary, where staff were experiencing problems getting in as well as some pupils because public transport wasn’t running.

Stagecoach’s services around Cwmbran were running yesterday with some diversions, while all leisure centres and libraries were re-opened in Blaenau Gwent.

In Monmouthshire, 95 per cent of the roads were operational with all school transport running normally.