KIDNEY patients in the Cotswolds were nearly stranded without vital medical treatment when the icy roads stopped all transport on Friday.

Cotswold Centre for Voluntary Services (CCVS) based in Cirencester had to shut down all its volunteer bus routes as the snow and ice caused havoc on the roads.

But managing director Jane Winstanley had to desperately search for transport to get dialysis patients to Gloucester Royal Hospital on Friday as a matter of urgency.

The patients were from Fairford, Ashton Keynes, Marston Meysey and Cirencester and included two children.

She even asked the 29th regiment in South Cerney but they were unable to get the clearance needed to use army vehicles.

"They have got no choice but to have their dialysis every other day so it was vital we got them to hospital," she said.

CCVS cancelled its other services on Friday.

Mrs Winstanley said: "A lot of elderly people have been very concerned and one or two said they haven't got any supplies at home but there was nothing I could do. They feel totally cut off."

Luckily a CCVS volunteer managed to pick up all the kidney patients and take them to Cirencester Hospital where they were transported by an ambulance to Gloucester.

All CCVS bus services were up and running on Monday.