STRANDED teenagers had their prayers answered by a Longtown Mountain Rescue Team after their minibus was caught in a blizzard on Gospel Pass last night.

A group of four Pontypool students, and their trainer, had to be rescued from the highest road pass in Wales after becoming trapped in a snow drift.

The rescue operation took four hours, and after being pulled free by two specially-equipped Mountain Recue Land Rovers the students were returned safely to the outdoor education centre in Cusop.

“The conditions were atrocious, with drifting snow, blizzards, ice and high winds,” said Deputy team leader of Longtown MRT, Luke Lewis.

“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.”