A SHAP farmer is one of hundreds in Cumbria who are struggling to keep going through the snow and freezing conditions.

Matt Stephenson, who is enduring the second bad winter in a row having only moved to Salterwath Farm last November, is having to use expensive feed for his cattle and sheep to ensure they survive the harsh weather which has hit the area.

It has not been the easiest settling in period for Mr Steph-enson and his family since they travelled across the county from Ulverston to take up the tenancy in Eden.

“It has all happened so early. It is really cold here and it’s freezing all the water pipes in the buildings,” said Mr Stephenson.

“There is enough snow for it to mean the stock outside cannot reach grass so we are having to use expensive winter feed.

“Last year was a very harsh winter so we used a lot of feed.

"This was followed by a dry spring so the grass did not grow, which means a lot of people are short of winter feed.

"There will be a lot of people worried that they will run out of feed towards the end of winter.

“We wouldn’t normally used this feed until after Christmas.

"It has not been a good year. There has been a big hike in food prices and bringing in the feed is a problem because getting to the farm can be tricky.

“The main issue is the extra time it takes out of the day.

"The yard is like an ice rink so you spend all day defrosting the yard or the frozen pipes.”

Leading rural insurer NFU Mutual is already dealing with claims from people hit by the freeze and has issued advice to help people cope.

“The early cold snap appears to have taken some people by surprise, so we are urging anyone who hasn’t taken steps to prepare for snow and ice to do so now to reduce the risk of an accident or the misery a burst pipe can cause,” said John Kenny, NFU Mutual chief claims manager.

For more information on winter safety visit www.nfumutual.co.uk