This rare snap from a musuem collection shows the brave posties of 1940 delivering mail following a heavy snowstorm which hit the local area.

Snow began to fall from leaden skies on Friday January 26 1940 as Largs, Fairlie and West Kilbride were brought to a complete standstill.

It was soon to become an impossible battle against the elements as a snow plough worker died on Fairlie railway track while 300 soldiers were called upon to provide emergency help.

The above picture shows how the mail got through West Kilbride - a reminiscence of the cold spell Britain had experienced - the mail arriving at West Kilbride after being brought by sledge from Ardrossan.

And even some plucky skiers spotted an opportunity in the Main Street.

Largs and Millport Weekly News: Ski-ing in West Kilbride Main Street 1940Ski-ing in West Kilbride Main Street 1940 (Image: Newsquest)

The 'News' reported: "On Monday, Largs awoke to a sight unprecedented in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. The fine snow, blown by the strong wind, formed itself into drifts varying from four to nine feet deep." 

Beautiful as it was, trains and buses were not running, in fact even motor traffic had come to a complete halt. Many people had to do without milk over Sunday and Monday as only small congregations made it out to church and services were curtailed in the morning and cancelled in the evening.

Council staff were unable to clear the streets but cut passages in the drifts to allow entrances to the shops and housing.

The 'News' stated: "We pride ourselves, and rightly too, on the fact that Largs is an up-to-date coast resort in the summer time; but the storm we had shows how impotent man is in the face of nature."

A number of people who were stranded took advantage of a steamer from Largs to Wemyss Bay to connect with trains to Glasgow as the local area was completely cut off."

You can see footage from Fairlie Railway Station below.

Frazer's motor lorry cut a way through the drifts between Largs and Wemyss Bay, opening up a link to the outside world.

Greenock Central's Co-operative Society's milk van made the journey to Largs but it took 17 hours to get through, while it took until Tuesday for other vans to get through with vital supplies.

A Fairlie farmer lost a whole flock of sheep in the back hills of the village and was said to be 'in tears' at the loss.

The train service was suspended for over ten days. Normal communications with the outside world were resumed on Friday February 9, with the ordinary train service back in full swing.