NEW pictures show the cold snap has left chunks of ice floating down the river Wye through Herefordshire.
Tony Cook shared a picture in the Hereford Times Camera Club Facebook group of the icy water of the river in Hereford this morning (Friday).
An icy top to the river Wye in Hereford. Picture: Tony Cook/Hereford Times Camera Club
Alan Broatch shared a similar view from the Hunderton Bridge area of the sheets over the top of the river.
Ice against canoes on the river Wye in Hereford. Picture: Alan Broatch/Hereford Times Camera Club
It comes after temperatures fell as low as -9C in the county over, according to the Met Office, with an even colder -10C in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The cold snap is set to draw to a close over the coming days, with highs of 13C possible on Monday.
OTHER NEWS:
- Herefordshire pub opens new café to boost takings and help locals
- Hereford café serving up free Christmas dinner for those in need
- Fury over three-month swimming pool closure affecting hundreds of children
But that is after a yellow weather warning covering the county on Sunday.
Chunks of ice floating down the Wye isn't uncommon in cold weather, but it has been years since the river completely froze over.
Want to stay up to date with all the latest news for your local area? It's easy, just sign up for our weekly email newsletter here and all the important stories that matter to you will be delivered straight to your inbox.
Ken Joel, a member of our We Grew Up in Hereford Facebook group, shared this picture of the frozen river near the Old Bridge in Hereford.
The frozen river Wye in Hereford in the early 1960s. Picture: Ken Joel
The photograph, taken by his father, Frank Joel, predates the construction of the Greyfriars Bridge and is believed to date from the winter of 1962-1963, when the ice on the river was reported to be more than a foot thick, and strong enough to walk on.
OTHER NEWS:
- Police close Herefordshire bridge after crash
- Met Office warns communities could be cut off as it issues yellow snow warning
- Two drug growers jailed after police raid Herefordshire cannabis farm
The river Wye also froze in 1940 when a terrible tragedy occurred.
A frozen River Wye in Hereford, possibly in the 1880s
Five children aged around 10 were playing on the frozen River Wye when the ice gave way and the children were thrown into the river.
Four children were drowned but one survived, only because two people on the bank jumped into the river, pulled the girl out and took her to the nearby General Hospital.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here