Sheffield retro: 21 pictures show how Sheffield froze as snow hit city for months in 1979

During what was popularly known as the Winter of Discontent, as a result of strikes and industrial action, the city was gripped by snow and ice for what seemed like months.

Our pictures show how the winter weather continued well into the year, with pictures in our gallery taken all the way from January until March.

It was a year where residents in some parts of the city reported drifts up to six feet deep as the winter weather took hold. And for many children, the combination of closed schools and snowfall provided a golden opportunity to go out and play in the snow.

For many, that winter was memorable for the sight of scores of Sheffield Wednesday fans taking to the Hillsborough pitch to clear the playing surface, so that the Owls’ FA Cup third round game against Arsenal could take place – an image beamed across the country on the nation’s televisions.

It was to be the first of five games the two clubs played before the Gunners managed to get through to the fourth round – four of them replays, with Arsenal going on to win the competition later in the year.

Similarly, Sheffield United needed to get the shovels out to clear the pitch at Bramall Lane as our pictures show.