It’s coastal proximity means our town swerves the worst of heavy snowfall but that hasn’t always been the case. Looking back through the archives, the notorious winter of 1963 was the year which saw massive snow drifts and the rare event of the sea freezing over off the Fylde Coast. The winter of 1947 was described as being the hardest in living memory and in more recent times, the winter of 2009-2010 was recognised as being the coldest in decades. Other notable times were 1981 and the mid 1950s. The photos are fascinating, particularly the ones from the 1940s which show incredible depths of snow and people having to dig their way out.

31. Retro snow scenes
A snowy day in Blackpool's Stanley Park. Visitors make their way down the main drive in 2010 Photo: Rob Lock

32. Retro snow scenes
Off duty firemen help clearing snow from the pitch at Bloomfield Road football ground prior to a cup tie. The caption says 1940s/1950s, can anyone put an exact date to this? Photo: submit



35. Retro snow scenes
Stationary traffic on Whitegate Drive during heavy snowfall Photo: National World