WHETHER you have had to stay home from work, been stuck in the snow or had to find last-minute childcare because your kids’ school is closed, the past few weeks have been quite an inconvenience for most of us.

Whatever the delights to young children (and some adults) of playing about in the snow, the fun has most definitely gone now and we are all hoping for a bit of a thaw.

For some people, however, the freezing cold weather has been a lot more than an inconvenience – it has threatened their livelihoods and, in some cases, the lives of their stock. Farmers, especially smaller scale farmers such as those that attend Worcestershire farmers’ markets, are among the people most affected by the cold snap.

Henry Wormington, chairman of the Worcestershire Farmers’ Market Group, says: “It’s very tough for farmers at the moment.

The ground is so cold we can’t get the root veg out of the soil.

Veg growing above the ground has been badly scorched by the frost – but we’re hoping it will recover when things warm up a bit.

“Pigeons are doing a great deal of damage to the brassicas.

Normally they’d be eating other things but the brassicas are just above the snow so they are eating them – they are just so hungry.

“Livestock need lots of extra food as they can barely get anything out of the fields. On top of that, we need to give them at least 25 per cent more just to keep them warm. They are so cold they are just shivering out there.

“Any farmers with an undercover area have brought their livestock in to give them some shelter. We’ll do our best to bring what we can to the markets – as soon as there is the slightest thaw we’ll harvest some veg. The meat producers and baked goods should be fine. Please come and support us during this unprecedented cold weather!”

Today’s farmers’ market is in Abbey Road, Malvern, from 9am until 2pm. Tomorrow’s market is in Angel Place, Worcester, from 9am until 3pm. Next week’s market is in St Peter’s Garden Centre, Worcester, on Saturday, January 23, from 9.30am until 2pm.