Up to 40 people enjoyed hot food, log fires and a place to bed down after ditching their cars

An inn threw its doors open overnight to forty people stranded in heavy snowfall trapped in the wintry weather.

The Bear Inn near Burwash in East Sussex provided hot drinks, log fires, and even mattresses for children to sleep on.

One of them Dr Alexandra Loske, posted online ‘Many sleeping on the floor tonight but we are all happy.’

Dr Loske, a curator at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion, said dozens of people, including babies, children and elderly people, took shelter in the Bear Inn, and described the scene as ‘biblical’.

One of the rescued drivers Dr Alexandra Loske said of the pub’s kindness ‘We are all happy’

The stranded drivers found their way to the Bear Inn near Burwash, which was glad to help

About 40 people were forced to take refuge in a pub overnight after heavy snowfall forced some to abandon their cars on impassable roads

She abandoned her car on the A265 at about 5pm last night after the road conditions became ‘very scary’.

Many motorists had broken down, she said, while other cars were simply stuck and vehicles were ‘sliding everywhere’.

‘It was quite extraordinary. Fifteen minutes of snow, that’s all it took for us to get completely stuck’ she added.

She set off with about five families to find shelter, but the first pub they found eventually asked them to leave.

The Bear Inn’s landlady, Pauline, said they had eight hotel rooms but they quickly filled up

The M25 was at standstill as snow fell on the South east last night with little sign of gritters

‘Conditions were still really treacherous. Then we figured out the Bear Inn were taking in waifs and strays, and stranded people.

‘It was a long night and quite scary but we made so many good friends and met so many lovely and kind people. We are safe and warm.

‘It was absolutely amazing, log fires going, open arms, free food, free hot drinks, they put us all up.’

The Bear Inn’s landlady, Pauline, said they had eight hotel rooms but they quickly filled up.

‘Once we were full, we quite quickly realised that these people have got to go somewhere, they can’t stay in their cars all night’ she said.

Tom Buckley from Bexhill who also found refuge in the pub said ‘I got stuck on a hill just outside Burwash, got towed up the hill and dug out by the local vicar, who was a hero.

‘He offered us a place to stay but we went to the Bear Inn who gave us a room.

‘Every room was full, people sleeping in the bar. Those people couldn’t be any nicer.’

Sussex Police said they were dealing with a number of drivers stranded on the A21 in Hastings and surrounding roads this morning.

They urged people to stay calm and remain in their vehicles.