The snow may have caused chaos to Oxfordshire’s schools, roads and public transport systems at the end of last week, but two of the county’s furriest residents were in their element.

Trained Alaskan malamute sled-dogs Fenn and Goose live in Kingston Bagpuize with their owner Dianne Jackson.

Miss Jackson, a teacher at Cokethorpe School, in Ducklington, near Witney, said the pair, aged six and three, had been born and brought up in Britain but had not forgotten their Arctic roots.

She said: “They are freighting sled-dogs. They’re a very, very old breed.”

She races with the dogs in events held in this country, but instead of sleds, they normally have to pull three-wheeled scooters, known as rigs, in sprint races and long-distance treks.

On Friday they were able to stretch their legs in the snow, with Miss Jackson being pulled along on her sled.

She said: “I pulled the curtains in my bedroom and one of them jumped up and saw it was snowing.

“She stuck her nose in the air and just howled. They’re absolutely loving this weather.”