A Mill Hill woman and her ten-month-old baby took four hours in freezing conditions to complete what should have been a ten-minute journey in the chaos following Thursday's sudden snowfall.

Lara Moore, 32, had taken her baby son Freddie to visit his grandparents in Albany Crescent, Edgware, and set out from home for Ladysmith Road at 6.10pm. She finally arrived at 10.10pm.

"It was quite horrendous and it was worse for Freddie. All you could see were all the traffic lights which kept turning green and no-one was moving," she said.

Mrs Moore tried to take a back route to avoid the traffic but still ended up sitting for two-and-a-half hours on the A41 between Aerodrome Road and Fiveways Corner.

"I was helpless I couldn't do anything. No-one can get to you. My mobile phone battery had gone and my petrol light was flashing on the dashboard.

"I couldn't get out and walk because of the baby. I couldn't leave the heating on all the time because of the petrol but luckily I had a blanket in the car.

"Freddie was screaming in the back. I couldn't get out to hold him and feed him. My husband was so worried he started out walking down to find me with a warm bottle and a sandwich.

"I was so angry they've said all week about the snow and I can't believe it has brought everything to a standstill."

January 31, 2003 14:00