Santa’s Grotto was shut today – after too much snow fell and Father Christmas was unable to get to work.
Children were left in the cold after Santa and his elves failed to show up to hand out presents at Gracechurch Shopping Centre in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.
Owners of the grotto left a sign for disappointed families, informing shoppers that the workers had got stuck somewhere ‘between the North Pole and Gracechurch’.
It added: ‘Santa will not be in his grotto today. Unfortunately Santa and his elves are unable to be on-site as they have been caught up in the storm.’
Santa’s Grotto was shut today – after too much snow fell and Father Christmas was unable to get to work
Owners of the grotto left a sign for disappointed families, informing shoppers that the workers had got stuck somewhere ‘between the North Pole and Gracechurch’
Birmingham is among the worst hit parts of the UK by snow today, with upwards of four inches falling in a few hours.
The NHS trust in the West Midlands was forced to appeal for help online after the snow left hospitals with nurse shortages.
Heart of England trust, which represents hospitals in Birmingham and Solihull, asked on Twitter: ‘Do you have a 4×4 and can volunteer to help our nurses get into our hospitals at good hope 424 7564 or heartlands 424 0483 pls give us a call. Thanks’
Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield serves northern Birmingham, while Heartlands hospital is based in Bordesley Green, in the east of the city.
Children were left in the cold after Santa and his elves failed to show up to hand out presents at Gracechurch Shopping Centre in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham
Highways England has advised road users intending to travel through the West Midlands and the north-west of England to check the forecast and road conditions over the next few days before they travel
A lorry pushes the snow aside along Quinton Road in Birmingham this morning, after approximately 3 inches of snow has fallen this morning
The trust earlier said online: ‘Trained nurses needed at Good Hope hospital due to heavy snow. If can get in pls call site office 424 7564.’
Meanwhile Birmingham Airport, along with Heathrow, Stansted and Luton, was forced to cancel and delay flights due to snow on the runway.
Hundreds of homes are still without power in the West Midlands, where temperatures remained below freezing overnight.
Highways England advised road users intending to travel through the West Midlands to check the forecast and road conditions before they travel.
An abandoned car on the roadside on the Snake Pass in the Peak District, as heavy snowfall across parts of the UK is causing widespread disruption