As Arctic blizzards swept across south-east England, stranding hundreds in their cars and bringing motorways to a virtual halt in white-out conditions, Kent police received a strange call on their emergency number.

"I haven't been out to check on him for five hours but I went outside for a fag and he's gone," said the female caller.

When the operator asked who had gone she replied: "My snowman. I thought that with it being icy and there not being anybody about he'd be safe. It ain't a nice road but you don't expect anybody to nick your snowman," she added.

Police were most definitely not amused. "This call could have cost someone's life if there was a genuine emergency and they couldn't get through. It was completely irresponsible,' said Chief Inspector Simon Black.

A transcript of the call was released by the force to highlight what they said was misuse of the emergency number 999 system.

I've just thought of an insurance opportunity...

The guard dog was not such a good idea...

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