The first day of December is the official start of the Meteorological Winter. Even before then, there was a significant cold snap followed by heavy rain and winds. In Hambledon, as elsewhere, frosts, snow flurries and blustery winds have reminded us that we should be prepared for potential disruption.

Thank you to villager Antonia Pascoe, from Vann Lane, who provided the lovely photograph below taken recently, which illustrates so beautifully our ever-changing and unpredictable weather.

Some years ago Hambledon Parish Council developed an Emergency Plan, mainly to take account of damage to overhead lines causing power cuts, Living in a heavily-wooded, rural village, this is the most likely cause of disruption in our area.

Weather extremes are now a recognised consequence of climate change, an additional reason to be prepared. Now is a good time for householders to ensure they have taken the necessary basic steps to be ready in case of disruptions to electricity and other utility services, phones, local roads and travel further afield.

If power fails so can landline household phones as most cannot function without electricity. If you are still able to use stand-by phones that can operate without mains supply then please have these to hand.

However, in recent years many households have switched to a digital connection and this is likely to have disabled non-mains phones. Please be aware.

Mobile phones lines can also fail during severe weather. It is worth remembering that the public phone box outside the village shop does not require electricity and will continue to work unless overhead lines have been brought down. Operator, reverse charge and 999 calls are free but you will need to use a bank card for all other calls. It does not take coins any more.

Keep torches handy and make sure that you have a supply of batteries. A battery-operated radio will also come in useful for listening to local radio bulletins. Tune in to BBC Radio Surrey on 104.6FM and on DAB.

The village website will also carry updates at www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk, assuming power is still available.

Please keep an eye on your neighbours, particularly those living alone or infirm, especially during cold spells and weather-related disruption.

If conditions are severe the village volunteers – some with 4-wheel drive vehicles – will do their best to assist with any individual issues as well as deal with general problems around the village such as fallen branches/snow blocking roads, paths and drives and maintaining contact with external agencies.

Please read on for emergency contact details and keep this information to hand.

* Power Cut Helpline: 105 or 0800 3163 105 , or report online at https://powertrack.ssen.co.uk/powertrack, where you can also register for Priority Service if over 60, have a child under the age of 5 or have medical needs.

* Scottish and Southern Electricity (power cuts and emergencies): 105 or 0800 072 7282. Also visit https://powertrack.ssen.co.uk/powertrack for advice and information on specific power failures.

* National Gas helpline: 0800 111 999

* Flooding: In a major emergency 999. Flooding on roads, report to Surrey County Council on 0300 200 1003 or flooding from rivers to the Environment Agency 0800 80 70 60. Also Floodline for information and reporting on 0345 988 1188.

Thames Water: 0800 316 9800

* Latest travel information:  https://x.com/BBCSurrey and Live Traffic Maps on our website.

* South Western Railway: www.southwesternrailway.com for live rail travel updates, and the Live Departure Boards of Milford and Witley.

* Surrey County Council (for on-line updates and advice): www.surreycc.gov.uk/winter

* Waverley Borough Council: Visit the council website at www.waverley.gov.uk to look for updates on local services, including refuse collections. Or ring the switchboard on 01483 523333 during office hours and 01483 523200 for out-of-hours emergencies. Updates can be found at x.com/WaverleyBC and at https://www.facebook.com/WaverleyBC

* NHS: 111 for non-life threatening emergency help and advice.

* Emergency Services: 999 in an emergency and 101 for non-emergencies.

This website carries live rail travel information and local weather reports. Please follow the links from the Home menu.

In the village the Hambledon Emergency Team co-ordinator is Stewart Payne who can be contacted on 07831 393561 or 01483 425250.

He can also seek the assistance of local village volunteers who, like him have four-wheel drive vehicles, chain-saws and other useful equipment to deal with most situations. In the event of severe disruption, they will endeavour to be out-and-about in the village in their vehicles, centred on the village shop.

*Since the heavy snow of 2010, when Hambledon was cut off, Surrey County Council agreed to add Hambledon Road from Lane End to Hydestile Crossroads to its gritting and snow ploughing routes. The parish council has also secured the assistance of a local famer who has been supplied with a snow plough to attach to his farm vehicles to sweep minor roads such as Vann Lane.