WHEN icy blasts gripped Notts last year, it left some communities struggling to keep day-to-day life on track.

To avoid a repeat this winter, Notts County Council decided to ask the people on the ground for help.

The result is that 65 farmers and 88 other representatives of town and parish councils across the county have agreed to become "snow wardens".

With the authority busy clearing the county's main A and B-roads of snow and ice, the volunteers will be paid £45 an hour when called upon to clear any minor roads that are vital to ensuring communities aren't cut off.

Among those who have signed up is farmer Chris Cockayne, who runs Top Brackendale Farm in Cropwell Bishop with his brother, Ian.

The fourth-generation arable farmer will help the county council with clearing roads between the A52 at Saxondale to the Hickling estate.

The route will see him cover some roads in Cropwell Butler, Cropwell Bishop, Kinoulton, and up to Hickling Pastures.

Mr Cockayne, 67, said: "We should all have a social conscience and do something to help the community on these occasions because we have the machinery to do so."

Arable farmer Keith Bonser has also been enlisted to keep roads in East Leake, Sutton Bonington, Stanford-on-Soar, and Normanton-on-Soar clear should snow fall.

Mr Bonser, who has farmed at Cedars Farm in Normanton-on-Soar for the last 23 years, was previously a snow warden for the village's parish council.

In preparation for his new role, he has spent £2,000 on a snow plough which can be attached to his tractor. Mr Bonser, 63, said: "I think there's just too much for the council vehicles to do.

"My role will be to snow plough minor roads and keep the villages moving.

"It's right farmers should help. We used to do a lot of snow ploughing years ago and now the role is coming back.

"The snow plough is a reasonable investment, but it's worth it to keep people moving. I'm just doing my bit for the community."

The other 88 volunteers will take it upon themselves to monitor snowfall in their communities and report back to the council with any problems. Some will then be in charge of leading community clear-ups to help the likes of care homes remain accessible.

Others will simply watch from their windows and try to foresee any problems that may arise.

Councillor Richard Jackson, Notts County Council's cabinet member for transport and highways, said the role of a snow warden used to be more common, but had died off in recent years due to milder winters.

He said last winter's prolonged cold spell proved there was a need for a revival.

Mr Jackson said: "In a lot of parishes last winter, farmers helped clear the roads. What we are doing is formalising that.

"The snow wardens system has been allowed to fall by the wayside, so it means we're starting from scratch with this. But it's something that is well worth doing as we cannot be everywhere.

"Local people on the ground can highlights concerns and it will be really useful to have these wardens and farmers to help out."

Anyone interested in becoming a snow warden is asked to get in touch with their local parish or town council for more details.

Volunteers can also call Notts County Council on 08449 80 80 80 and ask for the highways department.