MAJOR employers in Swindon have not suffered because of the heavy weather – but one hotel was left out in the cold by cancellations.

Hotels appear to have been some of the worst affected in the town on Monday, it was business as usual yesterday.

Andrew Spink, general manager of the De Vere Hotel, at Shaw Ridge, said that business had been badly affected on Monday, however, since then, the situation had returned to normal.

On Monday morning the hotel had only four vacancies, but by the end of the day that figure had risen to 45 with 41 cancellations.

He said those that had cancelled on the Monday were either snowed in or did not want to travel.

The cancellation cost the business several thousand pounds.

Nationwide’s Swindon office said it had not noticed major numbers of people unable to make it to work.

“We have not really been impacted that much when it comes to our employees,” said spokeswoman Katie Moore.

“We’re quite flexible so if there was a small number of people unable to come in they probably would be able to work from home.”

A spokesman for Zurich said a number of offices had closed and calls diverted, but Swindon had not been one.

“We have been quite fortunate compared to other offices,” she said. On Tuesday most of our buildings are open although as a precaution.

“We advised colleagues who are worried about travelling to and from the office to check the situation and liaise with their manager regarding their travel arrangements.

“In those instances where people can work from an alternative office or feasibly work from home, we are encouraging them to do so.”

Paul Briggs, the chief executive of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group represents companies of all sizes across Swindon.

“I know the media is quoting the loss of some £3bn to the British economy as a result of the weather, but I’m not sure where these figures comes from.

“But I do know that more people were able to work from home than ever before.”