THE Beast from the East struck the West Coast last week with white flurries covering the majority of North Ayrshire.

Schools were closed, residents were snowed in and the roads were deserted as the worst snow storm for years gripped the country.

Trains were off, roads were closed and the council’s gritting teams were out in force.

Despite the terrible weather, the Herald’s intrepid team of delivery boys and girls put in a sterling effort, ensuring your favourite local paper reached everyone. We’d like to thank the whole team for their brilliant work in such awful conditions.

Many locals decided to make the most of their unexpected days off, building snowmen, sledging and staging snowball fights.

Some even captured the local area in a way very rarely seen, with Ardrossan South Beach completely covered in snow. This page highlights some of the best local snaps sent in to the Herald.