PRESS RELEASE – Friday 29 December 2017
The Christmas period this year has been especially cold with snow and ice affecting many parts of the county leaving roads all but impassible for conventional vehicles.
Many people rely on services that normally get taken for granted such as carer or district nurse visits, but when the roads become treacherous through ice, snow or flooding these services become a lot harder to provide yet are all the more essential for those that need them.
As a result, volunteers from the charity Northants 4×4 Response have covered hundreds of miles this month, providing specialist transport for the emergency and essential services who still need to carry out their work regardless of the conditions.
Northants 4×4 Response has around 70 volunteers who give up their time, skills and the use of their own four-wheel drive vehicles to help their local communities when needed.
A spokesman for the charity said: “We know how difficult it can be keep the county running smoothly in severe weather conditions, so our volunteers are here to provide support twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, wherever we might be required in the county.”
“Not only do they make use of their skill and experience of driving in poor conditions, but they are also equipped to keep themselves and their passengers safe while venturing out in the kind of severe weather conditions when most people would prefer to stay safely indoors.”
Anyone taking to the roads themselves is encouraged to plan ahead and ensure they have sufficient warm clothing with them in case they get stuck in snow or caught in traffic jams, as well as food and water, a shovel, torch and a tow rope for their vehicle. Taking a few minutes to prepare and check over your car can prevent a long cold wait should anything go wrong on the journey; even if it is only a short trip.
Notes for Editors:
Northants 4×4 Response was established in 2008 by Northants 4×4, the county’s largest all-makes 4×4 group, and is a Registered Charity.
Northants 4×4 Response is one of 30 groups that makes up the 4×4 Response UK network that covers most of the UK and Isle of Man, with combined strength of around 1800 volunteers and vehicles.
For more information, photographs or to arrange an interview click here: www.northants4x4response.uk