TWO X-ray clinics have been cancelled at Ledbury Cottage Hospital this week, but otherwise the hospital was able to operate as usual.

Sister Sue Roig said: "Staff managed to get into work but two of X-ray clinics had to be cancelled due to the transport situation."

Dr Mike Deakin, Herefordshire's director of public health paid tribute to NHS staff across the county, who made every effort to come in and serve the community.

He said: "Ledbury ran pretty well normally. The whole NHS in Herefordshire had problems with staff getting in, but people were staying overnight to take up their shift in the morning; they were walking and cycling in and sharing cars."

He described some of the efforts to get to work as "heroic".

A fuel delivery for the NHS's "essential users", such as doctors and district nurses, was expected to come on stream yesterday afternoon, at a Hereford garage.