SNOW does something magical to the valleys and villages across Stroud district.

It transforms them into a winter wonderland, and an incredible playground for children.

We’ve seen schools closed across the county this week, no doubt to the joy of many children who’ve delighted in a day of sledging and snowballs.

But winter also means a time when many workers have to ‘go the extra mile’.

Gritters work through the night, postal workers brave icy pavements, and breakdown services are stretched to their limits.

While the weeks before Christmas see many of us working harder, for others it can be an isolating time.

Snow and ice only add to that isolation.

For many it can mean literally being unable to leave the house, and not seeing a familiar face for days.

The social care available to old people has already been cut to the bare minimum, and isolation and loneliness can be debilitating and have a devastating effect on mental health.

It’s amplified at this time of year when we see so many images of happy families, and people leading busy lives.

As one of the unforeseen consequences of Universal Credit we see increasing numbers of people forced to make hard choices between food and heating, on nights when the temperature has plunged to below freezing.

There is little festive cheer, when you’re facing hard choices and a bleak midwinter.

This year, the need to reach out to our neighbours is as great as ever.

Loneliness is an epidemic yet its cure is simple.

It’s about sharing our most precious resource, our time. Just a few minutes to say hello, get to know someone a little bit better, can strengthen connections and communities, and combat isolation.