The prolonged freezing conditions have continued to disrupt lives across the district this week with not even the coast escaping the effects.

With heavy falls of snow and sub-zero temperatures, authorities and businesses struggled to maintain services.

Many roads have been impassable, including at times the A38 and A380 despite special efforts on Haldon Hill.

For a while the Royal Mail Delivery Office in Newton Abbot became a no go area and posties who managed to get in were told it was too dangerous to go out on deliveries.

They have since been going flat out to clear a huge backlog of Christmas mail, although not all addresses could be reached.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: 'Our postmen and women are pulling out all the stops to get the mail delivered as quickly as possible, although in some instances these efforts are being hampered by the snow and icy conditions.'

Refuse and recycling collections were also affected. Teignbridge Council said it would 'do its best' to catc

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