Villagers are not letting the Beast from the East dampen their community spirit, as many check up on their neighbours and the vulnerable to make sure they're ok.

Eastern Daily Press: Michael and Wendy Foot from Walpole St Peter. Picture: Ian BurtMichael and Wendy Foot from Walpole St Peter. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

The kind people of West Norfolk have been looking out for one another, as many of the villages are cut off from King's Lynn due to adverse road conditions.

Many of these villages do not have shops, and so residents have been calling their neighbours to make sure they were not without supplies.

This is especially the case for the elderly in some of the rural villages, who may not have friends or family to look out for them, as Walpole St Peter couple Michael and Wendy Foot have found.

'We don't have a shop in the village and I know some people stock up when they see the forecast,' said 74-year-old Mrs Foot.

'I think it is just about being good neighbours, you make one or two phone calls to people who you know haven't got anybody with them.

'There are people who help each other in times of need, like this.'

Mr and Mrs Foot, who run the charity Robert Foot Leukaemia Fund in their son's name, have been trying to avoid driving as the roads are covered in ice.

Many clubs that take place in the village parish hall, including badminton, craft and good companions, have been consequently cancelled.

Mrs Foot said with no shop in the village she has had to make a two-mile trip to Samuel's Farm Shop in Market Lane, in order to do shopping for a charity Sunday lunch she has organised.

Normally she would do her shopping in Wisbech, but she said: 'I didn't want to take the risk.

'The pavements are also icy, which is becoming a bigger problem than the roads.'

Susan Lane, 56, of Benns Lane, Terrington St Clement, said people in her village have also rallied round to help the elderly who may be isolated and feeling lonely.

She added: 'The shops are all open but we are looking after the older ones in the village, we ring them to make sure they are alright and keeping warm.

'We make sure they have the main bits that they need. Fingers crossed this weather doesn't last too long.'