New mountain range springs up in Watten after community effort gets streets cleared

The village of Watten woke up today to the sight of towering peaks of ice and snow along with cleared streets thanks to a group of selfless volunteers.

Achingale Place and its approaches had a series of white mountains along its perimeter that resulted from a throng of people coming together to help clear the village yesterday after days of heavy snow.

Maria Paterson from the Watten Helps Out group on Facebook said: "After nearly four days of snow, we thought our neighbours would need supplies so Watten Helps Out put a shout-out on Facebook.

"Some people responded needing shopping and we went to some doors of others not on social media. Our street was not passable for normal vehicles so we decided to try to shift some of the worst at the bottom of the street.

"By good luck, Leslie Dunnet was passing in his tractor and stopped to help. It made the street passable. David Anderson and Richard Henderson also helped clear the rest of the village."

There was one person who was unable to pick up a vital prescription from the chemist in Wick but many came to her help and a path was cleared at the woman's house. Other volunteers with shovels helped people whose cars were blocked in and Richard Henderson cleared a parking space outside the village shop.

It was also noted that there were local farmers helping clear roads with their tractors and pulling people out who had become stuck.

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