FARMERS have spoken of the "endless disruption" caused by heavy snowfall across Derbyshire over the past week.
Problems have included milk being thrown away, lambs being cold and insufficient food for animals.
Amanda Sargent, of Baldfields Farm, near Etwall, said: "We are in the middle of lambing at the moment. At the weekend I had five lambs in our kitchen as it was too cold for them outside in the pens.
"One of the problems when bringing the lambs in is that the ewes don't always take the lambs back. The snow blew inside the sheds where they were sheltering, making it very cold."
Mrs Sargent also said they had experienced problems with crops as a result of the cold weather. She said: "Last summer we did not get all of our crops sown. We were hoping to start doing them now but as the ground is frozen in parts we can't start yet.
"It's meant that we're using up a lot of feed and silage to give our animals and as they're inside they're eating a lot more.
"It is looking pretty bleak for us at the moment."
Bill Dilks, who runs Hollyhouse Dairy Farm in Shottle, near Belper, said the snow had been a "nightmare". The 69-year-old said: "As a result, we had quite a few dramas over the weekend.
"The snow was 10ft deep in places. We had to dig the road out to make way for the milk tanker because the road was blocked by snow which had blown off the fields.
"It was very difficult. We had to have big tractors out helping and we had to tow the tanker through."
He also said the farm faced the complication of diesel freezing as well as a tractor becoming stuck in a ditch because the roads were covered in snow.
He added: "It's been an absolute drama. The only consolation is that it has brought the community together.
"Everybody has been trying their best to help one another out.
"I've known it to be bad in January and February but I've never known it so bad so late. I'm 70 this year and never in my life have I seen the last 12 months like it."
Barry Moseley, 47, a herdsman at the farm, said they had an extra complication when his 14-year-old daughter, Emily, collapsed.
He said: "She was helping me with milking when she had stomach ache and then collapsed.
"We had to get a tractor to take her to the paramedics who could only get as far as Shottle Hall, two miles away, because of the snow.
"She was then able to be taken to the Royal Derby Hospital. She is recovering well now."
No more snow is forecast between now and Sunday and the temperatures are expected to remain above freezing during the day but well below overnight.
But volunteers are "desperately" needed to help clear remaining snow at the Steeple Grange Light Railway, at Wirksworth, before its Easter opening on Saturday.
Chairman Martin Smith said the line was "completely covered".
He added: "We've been digging with shovels and whatever else we can get our hands on. There are only two of us doing it at the moment and we're desperate to get it cleared.
"Every little helps and we would appreciate it if people come down and help us."
If you can offer your help, call 07828 421683 or 07970 863023.
