A big winter freeze is on the way, according to forecasters.

Whether January 2019 will bring a swathe of snow to our county remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure, this time in 1940 south Essex was covered in a blanket of the white stuff.

The weather during January of this year plummeted to such low temperatures it saw lakes freezing over and meant for the first time in many years, Southenders could go New Year’s ice skating at Southchurch Park.

The lake in the park was covered by two inches of ice, meaning it soon turned into a makeshift rink for children and parents.

Aside from the fun, however, the bad weather also caused huge snow drifts, froze barges and brought chaotic road closures to Southend and nearby towns and villages.

There were many heroes of the day - tradesmen still soldiered on throughout the snow spell, walking across huge snowdrifts in order to deliver milk and bread to their customers.

Our favourite photo from the gallery of nostalgic snow images from January 1940, which all featured in the Southend-on-Sea and County Pictorial at the time, is of two young boys having the time of their lives sliding down Pier Hill.