SIXTY-FIVE snow ploughs, 45 gritters and hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of salt – but it still was not enough.

The heaviest snowfall for nearly 20 years brought Hampshire to a standstill yesterday as schools, transport and council services failed to cope with a thick blanket of ice and snow.

It is the most widespread snow to hit Hampshire and the UK in 18 years, and raises the question of whether enough is being done to deal with the arctic conditions.

Weather experts say residents have no choice but to put up with occasional freeze-out or face spending millions of pounds on extra measures.

Trevor Gymer, a meteorologist and climate expert from Southampton’s National Oceanography Centre, said: “In some Scandinavian countries and in the US they have greater snow ploughs and trains are powered by overhead cables, not like the ‘third rail’ track system we have in the south of England.

“Unless we are prepared to rip up our train lines and replace them with overhead power cables, or spend millions on snow ploughs and services, we won’t be able to deal with the conditions which are regular for other countries.”

“If that was done then people would always ask why such huge amounts of money was being spent on something that only happens once every few decades.”

Environment Cabinet member Mel Kendall said the council had a “well organised and measured response”.

“The salt lorries have been out as soon as we know there is a problem and helped clear roads used by 85 per cent of the county’s traffic,” he said.

“Obviously this level of snow is quite rare. In other countries they are so used to it that they are much more well equipped and their children for example will all ski to school.”

“But we don’t live in those conditions and we have to adapt which is a lot easier as many people can stay at home and use the Internet to work.”

The bill for clearing snow from Hampshire’s major routes is around £225,000 for each 24-hour period.

As well as 45 gritter lorries, which can each carry five tonnes of salt, they have 65 ploughs at the ready with additional support coming from local farmers to clear some 45 routes that are around 35 miles long.