ARCTIC temperatures have led to a shortage of shovels, spades and other essential DIY equipment in Oxford.

Even Wellington boots are hard to come by. City DIY and hardware stores have reported a rush on rock salt, spades, sleighs and car batteries as people struggle to get to grips with the big freeze.

But many customers have been left disappointed as suppliers run out of equipment and distributors find it difficult to make deliveries.

Keith Smith, 40, owner of Smith & Low DIY stores in Hollow Way, Cowley, said: “We have sold out of shovels and have one spade left — the trouble with the weather is you never know what is going to happen next and it’s always a job to get in new stock. We have sold out of what we have and none of our suppliers can get out to deliver. People have been coming in asking for sledges, big plastic snow shovels, grit and car batteries.

“People turn to stores like us when the weather is bad. We even had someone come in asking for a lump of heavy-duty plastic so they could sit on it as a makeshift sledge.”

Although they might have sold out of essential stock, many DIY stores have reported poor trade.

Simon Griffin, 57, manager of A to Z Household Goods in London Road, Headington, said: “People have been after sleighs, shovels, salt and wellies but they are just not available — it’s a shame because I could have made a fortune from it. I could have sold 300 sleighs, no trouble.”

Dave Kempster, manager of Wickes in Botley Road, said: “We have sold out of spades and rock salt, but no one is coming in, it has been really quiet.

“Wednesday was dead and Thursday livened up a little, but we are taking 50 per cent of what we would usually do. We ran out of rock salt before the snow came and spades sold out on Wednesday morning.”

Christine Hodges, manager of Wilkinson’s in Templars Square, Cowley, said: “All our Wellingtons sold out on Wednesday. We had a delivery the following day, but as soon as they came in they just went. ”

Mike Augar, 40, manager of Johnsons Buildbase in Watlington Road, Cowley, said: “We shut for two days because of the weather but trade yesterday was fairly brisk.”

gsheldrick@oxfordmail.co.uk