THESE children were among hundreds who took advantage of the weekend whiteout. The seven youngsters, aged between one and five, helped their parents build an 8ft igloo in a field near Turville on Saturday.

Elsewhere, hills across the area were packed with families sledging after four inches of snow fell on Friday, signalling an early start to the weekend as schools and many businesses closed.

Drivers leaving Henley faced lengthy delays as roads clogged up and there were a number of minor accidents but most places coped well following the advance warning of the wintry weather.

The igloo was the idea of landowners Kier and Sara Harman when children came round to play with their daughters, Ffion, five, and one-year-old Bronwen. The youngsters, most of whom attend Ipsden Early Days Nursery, had also spent the previous day together after the school closed. Joining the girls were Ischia, five, Bea, four, and Rocco La Placa, three, and Ben, five, and Joseph Dawson, two, as well as the Harmans’ neighbours Alice and Johnny Nuttgen.

The children used sledges to gather snow and then packed it into plastic crates to create the “bricks” while he adults built a frame from twigs and branches. The igloo was completed with a home-made flag and snow seat inside covered with a cow hide rug for warmth. The children then enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate inside their icy den.


Mrs Harman said: “It was brilliant — the children concentrated solidly on building the igloo throughout the day. They were fascinated from the moment it was finished and haven’t lost interest since. We love it — it’s not something you can usually do and it’s the kind of happy memory that the children will always have.”

Published 28/01/13