Buckfastleigh was a 'ghost town' during December's severe weather and the blame has been laid on the authorities who 'virtually abandoned' the community.

The comments came after this month's meeting of the full council when angry members, who want to ensure the same never happens again, resolved to air their feelings in public.

Clerk Judith Hart told the Advertiser: 'Members discussed the urgent item of how disappointed and dismayed we were about how Buckfastleigh and Buckfast were virtually abandoned during the period of extreme weather in December, by both the county council and the district council.

'While we understand and appreciate that essential services, resources and manpower are stretched to the limit at such a time, Buckfastleigh became a ghost town which was inaccessible even by the emergency services and the situation was only resolved by the eventual thaw.

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