With more snow expected over the next few days, many Islanders have braved the freezing conditions to pick up their essential supplies.

Emily Knowler, manager at Tesco in Bridge Road, Sheerness, said the store was busy on Monday, Tuesday and yesterday (Wednesday).

People were buying lots of long-life milk, bread and soup, although she said it has quietened down a bit today.

Staff at the in-store bakery are working throughout the day to keep the fresh bread coming.

The store has run out of table salt though as people have been buying bag loads to put down on their driveways and paths.

Emily said: “The only thing we are struggling with is salt – as soon as we get it people are bulk buying.

“We have compensated by getting an awful lot of dishwasher salt.

“The car park is very slushy so we would urge people to drive with caution.”

Otherwise, it is business as usual for Tesco.

Over in Eastchurch, Bhavik Patel, who owns The Spar in the high street, said it is a similar story.

Mr Patel said: “We have been getting regular deliveries and have been busy.

“There is a bit of panic buying of bread and milk.”

One shopper said the Co-op in Queens Road, Minster, has run out of bread and milk.

Gritters and a snow plough have cleared High Street, Sheerness, after more snow this morning started to settle.

Sheppey’s own weatherman, Darren Prescott, said there will be more snow this afternoon and into this evening and it will settle.

Mr Prescott, who monitors the weather from his home in Bay View, said at midday today (Thursday) the temperature was -1.4C which is almost unheard of.

He said: “It’s the coldest it’s been at noon for about 15 years.

“We don’t normally get that kind of weather.

“I think we will see falling snow pretty much every day until at least Monday and I would expect at least another couple of inches.”

The 30-year-old also said that even though the gritters are out and about on the Island, because there is not much traffic around, the grit isn’t doing its job as it needs the cars to ground it into the snow.

Meanwhile, Swale council has announced it has been forced to suspend its rubbish collection service today.

Residents are advised to leave their refuse and reycling out and it will be collected as soon as is possible.

Although the Sheppey Crossing is currently open, police said they will be monitoring the situation and it will be closed if necessary.