A group of students on an outdoor education trip had to be rescued from the Gospel Pass, the highest road pass in Wales, in blizzard conditions on Thursday, March 21.

Abergavenny-based Longtown Mountain Rescue Team was called to the aid of the four youngsters and their trainer who had become stranded in their minibus on the top of Gospel Pass.

The team used two specially equipped Land Rovers to reach the group who were trapped in a snowdrift at 1,800ft on the pass between Abergavenny and Hay on Wye.

The rescue operation took four hours and the teenagers, from Pontypool, were taken back to the outdoor education centre, in Cusop, where they were staying at midnight.

Luke Lewis, deputy team leader, of Longtown MRT, said, "The conditions were atrocious, with drifting snow, blizzards, ice and high winds, but our vehicles are equipped to deal with this.

"The teenagers were cold and tired but otherwise okay. The centre had tea and biscuits waiting for everyone when we arrived.

"This recent cold weather has caught a lot of people out and has kept all the mountain rescue teams in South Wales very busy.

"We would remind any walker or motorist intending to head into the mountains to watch out for deteriorating weather conditions and to be well prepared, with spare warm clothing, food and drinks. While walkers must always carry a map, compass and torch."