IT was a night that brought Devon to a standstill... in a matter of hours, a sudden blizzard dumped inches of snow across Haldon Hill, leaving hundreds of motorists stranded and emergency services battling through huge drifts.

The great snow of February 2009 remains an extraordinary chapter in the county’s history.

As Haldon Forest Park celebrates its 20th anniversary, we’re looking at the dramatic winter weather that transformed the landscape and caused chaos on one of Devon’s busiest roads.

On the night of February 5, between eight and 12 inches (20-30cm) of snow fell on Haldon Hill in just a few hours. The unexpected snowfall quickly overwhelmed the A38, bringing traffic to a standstill and leaving an estimated 200 to 500 motorists trapped in their vehicles.

With conditions worsening, an unusual rescue operation swung into action.

Soldiers joined police, using special four-wheel-drive military vehicles to negotiate the huge snowdrifts and reach stranded motorists.

Emergency rest centres were opened at Chudleigh Town Hall and Exeter Racecourse, providing, much-needed shelter for those stuck in the snow.

The scale of the snowfall was particularly surprising after years of relatively mild winters in Devon.

What had started as an ordinary February evening had turned into a major emergency, with the A38 at Haldon Hill at the centre of the disruption.

And it wouldn't be the last time the area would experience such extreme conditions.

Less than a year later, another exceptional spell of winter weather hit during what became known as the ‘Big Freeze’.

In January 2010, the conditions were so severe that Haldon Forest Park was forced to close for five days.

Both events had a lasting impact, prompting the development of a multi-agency severe weather response plan for Haldon Hill.

Were you there when the snow hit? We’d love to hear your memories of the great snow of 2009. Send an email to [email protected]