FOR scores of council workers in Oxford, Whiteout Wednesday — as they dubbed yesterday — started at 4am.

About 300 frontline city council staff turned up for work to learn their normal duties had been suspended and only emergency calls would be dealt with.

And, for an army of staff based at the City Works depot in Marsh Road, that meant getting out on the streets armed with shovels.

Bin collections were cancelled, with workers instead sent out to clear as many pavements as possible.

Crews were also sent out to residential care homes, tower blocks and shopping centres to grit the paths that would be well-used throughout the day.

Over at Oxford City Homes — the city council’s tenant and maintenance arm — staff called scores of vulnerable tenants to see whether they needed any extra help.

Some, who were expecting visits from carers, needed paths and drives clearing, while others needed urgent prescriptions.

Meanwhile, a team of gas engineers was on standby to respond to calls about inevitable heating and hot water problems.

Over the course of the day staff fielded more than 300 emergency calls from council tenants across the city.

Engineer Barry Smith was called out to mother-of-one Safio Ali’s home in The Slade after her boiler packed up.

She said: “I woke up at 6am and tried to turn on the heater but nothing happened — it was freezing and I have a young child.

“I had no hot water or heating, so I was really pleased when the council visited. It was a huge relief when it was repaired.”

Mr Smith then drove to Champion Way, Littlemore, after Sandra Mackie reported a problem with her hot water system. The water pressure had dropped, which meant her flat was only being partially heated.

She said: “My hot water went down and there was a problem with the radiators.

“I had to wear extra layers because it was so cold.

“I was concerned because of the weather — I couldn’t be without heating.”

Engineers were also called out to fix a leak at Bury Knowle Library in Headington.

David Walker, manager of the stores at Oxford City Homes in Horspath Road, ordered in extra safety equipment including footwear, high-visibility jackets, 50 extra shovels, spare boiler parts and temporary portable heaters in anticipation of heavy snowfall.

And last night it emerged the city council had about 200 tonnes of salt left to grit footpaths and pavements, enough to last until the next delivery is scheduled.

Oxford City Homes chief Graham Bourton said: “It was a really positive response from the team. The great effort meant that all genuine emergencies were dealt with.

“We were planning for the worst and hoping for the best.

“Our priority was always going to be that we answered the telephone so we could respond quickly and effectively to emergencies — and that was the case.”