John Lewis organises sleepover for snowbound customers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.More than 100 customers, staff and children spent the night in a department store after they were stranded by snow, it was revealed today.
The 54 staff, about 30 adult customers and 20 children were provided with food and a bed in the bed department of John Lewis in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, after heavy snow gridlocked local roads yesterday.
Deborah Strazza, managing director of the store, said customers and staff had become stranded after heavy snow began falling in mid-afternoon.
The mother of two, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, was stranded herself, and stayed overnight in the store.
She said: "There was no way that I was going to throw customers out into that, or my own partners, and we just had to make use of what we had got.
"Basically we made up the beds and they all snuggled down in the bed department.
"It was so sweet, the kids absolutely loved it. They thought they were in Toy Story.
"The customers were really, really grateful and they could not thank us enough."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments