The famous snowstorm of 1940 cut off Largs for days, and when we displayed a picture of the drifts on Largs seafront some 74 years later, our surprised readers left comments on the “News” Facebook page.

Lesley McConn simply remarked: “Blimey!” The picture shows part of Gallowgate Street from Cunninghame the chemists to Paton’s the butcher.

Former ‘News’ editor John McCreadie wrote about his memories of the snowstorm in 1981. He said: “The snow started on Saturday January 27, and continued on Sunday. It built up high drifts throughout Largs and North Ayrshire. People had to get out through their windows in Brisbane Road.

Largs was cut off on all roads, including the railway. An engine ran into a snowdrift and was derailed in Fairlie tunnel, and another engine with a snowplough which tried to clear the line also got blocked the snow.

“A Fairlie railwayman was killed in the tunnel during efforts to free the engines. There were no trains in or out of Largs or Fairlie for 11 days.

“Trains were running from Wemyss Bay and on Tuesday a steamer service, one boat each way each day, started and took Largs passengers to and from Wemyss Bay. Being wartime, no mention of the snowstorm could be given in the newspapers or radio and it was only after 10 days that the censor released the news about Largs having been cut off.” And back to nowadays, Emily Terry asked: “And was that global warming? NO NO NO!” However, one of the dramatic pictures taken during the recent storms by Craig Maclachlan showed a swamped Mackerston putting green during the January 3 storms. The photo received 170 likes.

Kyle Fulton remarked: “This may not be an annual occurrence, thankfully, but I’ve seen it like this a few times over the past half century. Brilliant photo Craig!” * A picture from the archives by Grahame Ross of a Saints and Sinners event in Largs provided fancy dress fun on Facebook page from the early 80s.

Diane Mullen said: “I’m on the back left. Is that Al Watt holding me up? Linda Wilson is centre front. Think it was either at the Queen’s or St Helen’s Hotel. Just remember it was along that way. Is that Gordon Dick centre front? It was a vicars and tarts night!” Al Watt said: “Oh yeah - that’s me doing God’s work by picking up a fallen woman. It was a Rotaract charity do.” Also pictured were Evelyn Downs, Linda Shepherd, Alistair Watt (back left) and Gordon Dick of Fairlie (front centre).

And Linda Hamilton, who was also in the picture, quipped: “Oh - to be 21 again!” * A photograph of Fairlie shore taken by Calum Corral captured a double rainbow — and gained over 100 likes when posted on Facebook.