Police officer pictured up to his knees in snow on A140

But this was the incredible scene of an policeman up to his knees in snow on the A140 as the Beast from the East hit the south of the county, rendering the normally congested route completely impassable.

Snow drifts on Thursday morning left the road so blocked that it was difficult to tell the roads and fields surrounding it apart.

Farmers later brought their tractors to try and help clear the snow but police still advised people to not only avoid the area, but not travel at all unless it was absolutely necessary.

And to make the point about how dangerous it was, South Norfolk Police Tweeted a photograph of one of their officers standing on a road that is normally packed with vehicles, up to his knees in snow.

Farmers trying to help clear the A140 with their tractors. Picture: NORFOLK POLICE (Image: Archant)

Just in case any disbelieving Twitter followers thought that the officer was in fact kneeling, they wrote: 'This is Pc Bartlett this afternoon on the A140. Actually stood on the road.'

Although not much more snowfall is forecast on the east coast, warnings remain in place for motorists to not take to the road unless they absolutely have to.

Chief Inspector Sonia Humphreys, from Norfolk's Contact and Control Room, said: 'People do seem to be taking heed of the message. However, we've attended a number of areas today, particularly in rural locations, where motorists have become stranded.

'Roads in the more rural locations are heavily affected with areas virtually impassable because of ice and snowdrifts.'

For the latest travel information, see our online live traffic map.