Every snow cloud has a silver lining!

A number of cab companies said their trade was up and they put it down to people who would perhaps normally walk into places like Ballymoney town centre deciding to take the taxi instead because of the perils of icy pavements.

And they also found that during the big freeze a number of parents sent their children to and from school by taxi rather than try to negotiate slippery footpaths.

And more calls came in because people felt they were unable to get their cars out of their driveways because of slopes or didn’t want to chance driving themselves on roads in hilly parts of north Antrim.

Yet, other taxi firms reported that their business was down because of the snow.

A firm in Ballycastle told us: “Our business is down because it seems that with the snow people are staying at home and not venturing out to do anything and that means there is a reduced need for taxis.”

A spokeswoman for Route Taxis in Ballymoney however said they were busier.

She told the Times: “Householders maybe can’t get their car out of their drive or their avenue and they are booking a taxi or maybe some people feel a bit more timorous when it comes to tackling hills in their vehicles although taxi drivers will and have been able to get to most places successfully.

“And people who live only a short distance from the town centre are maybe not taking the chance of walking on the icy footpaths, especially the elderly.

“We have also found there are more bookings to take people to and from school because parents want to ensure their children don’t fall on the ice,” said the spokeswoman.