Freezing weather

Portsmouth suffered freezing weather conditions in February 1947. Emergency power cuts were imposed with police patrolling the main roads warning shop keepers about the mistaken use of lights, radios and other electrical appliances during prohibited hours. Street lights were not lit, except at important junctions, and on the 21^st roads on Portsdown Hill became so icy that people had to dismount from the buses and walk the eight miles home to Horndean.