LOOKING BACK: Buses crash and eight foot snow drifts in worst blizzards in 14 years

ICE, snow and winds have pounded the borough as Bury was hit with the worst blizzards for 14 years this week.

The Arctic blast sealed off farms and villages behind 8 feet snow drifts, crashed down power and telephone lines and damaged buildings .

At the blizzard's height disaster struck and a double decker bus was flung across the road into a wall near The Duckworth Arms hotel in Ramsbottom.

Driver Mr Trevor Bradley, aged 26, and conductor Mr Joseph Hindle, were taken to Bury General Hospital with slight injuries.

However all six passengers, including a four year old boy, escaped unhurt through and emergency door.

The crash caused a three-mile traffic hold up and for a time the road had to be closed.

Less than a mile away two lorries had similar fates when they were toppled over by the gale-force winds.

The high winds also tore off a section of roof at a warehouse in Lowercroft Road, and there was minor damage to other businesses caused by toppling chimney stacks and sliding roof slates.

Nearly 1,000 homes were without electricity and 250 phones were put out of action as Arctic storms severed the overhead powerlines and felled telegraph poles.

Across the borough Bury Cleansing department have been working non-stop to keep roads open with snowplough teams cutting their way through five feet drifts and gritting the streets.

Yesterday the department's salt stocks had dwindled from 500 to 40 tons and lorries were bringing in emergency supplies.

BURY’S temporary market should be open for business in three weeks, it has been confirmed, well ahead of the Easter target.

Workmen have entered the final stages of fitting out the large £30,000 steel and asbestos roofed hall and all the stalls are near completion. The hall is now fully electrified and the place has been tidied and painted.

Most of the 40 traders who were displaced when a mystery blaze gutted the 67-year-old market hall last November will set up business again in the temporary hall.

The prefab hall features 120 stalls fitted out as near to possible as the old market layout, and will provide traders with a home until a new £800,000 market hall is built as part of the new shopping centre redevelopment.