AN emergency meeting is being held tonight (Monday) to ensure vulnerable villagers are protected during the cold snap.

Milverton Parish Council is activating its emergency plan in view of the extreme cold weather forecast for this week.

Parish clerk Gwil Wren said: "The primary purpose is to ensure that elderly and vulnerable residents are protected during the impending cold snap.

"The Parish Council Emergency Committee will be working with the vicar, the Rev Helene Stainer, to ensure that those in the community without close support are looked after and do not want for warmth or hot food.

"A secondary purpose is to prepare the village for a possible snowfall later in the week and make sure that grit bins are full, salt supplies and 4X4 vehicles are available and communications established with outlying areas."

The council is holding a briefing in the Victoria Rooms this evening (Monday) at 7pm to meet those available to help and set out how that help will be directed.

Milverton Parish Council signed off its emergency plan at a public meeting in November 2017.

This is the first time it has been activated. Unless extended it will be operational until midnight on Friday (March 2).