Jeanne Greenhalf with Penny, who helped rescue her

An 85-year-old Shropshire woman was saved from freezing to death by her neighbours’ dog after she became stuck in the Arctic conditions gripping the country.

Faithful pet Penny went to fetch help for Jeanne Greenhalf after she fell into an icy brook while walking the dog.

Emergency services, called to the scene, hauled her to safety.

The plunging temperatures which almost claimed Mrs Greenhalf’s life showed no signs of letting up today with parts of the River Severn freezing over.

The ice on the river in the Kingsland area of Shrewsbury was reported to be up to an inch-and-a-half thick in places.

RAF Shawbury recorded a low of -5.4C (22.2F) overnight but temperatures were thought to have plummeted even further in remote parts.

And there is no sign of a let up in the freezing conditions either, with the mercury set to sink to -4C (25F) tonight and not rising above 3C (37F) tomorrow.

Mrs Greenhalf was left trapped when she fell into a brook in sub-zero temperatures in woods in Wellington on Thursday.

When no-one responded to her cries for help, she told the 10-year-old labrador-cross to find help.

Penny immediately ran off, only to return moments later with a mystery Good Samaritan.

Emergency services arrived on scene shortly afterwards and Mrs Greenhalf, from Wellington, was pulled to safety.

Penny belongs to Mrs Greenhalf’s next door neighbours, Jeremy and Margaret Eatough, and Mrs Greenhalf sometimes walks her when they are going to be out of the house for an extended period

The pensioner said: “Penny is just such a lovely dog, she is amazing.”

Meanwhile, half of Powys’ salt supply has been used up as the county council battles to keep major roads open.

Shropshire Council, which has been using up 5,000 tonnes of salt a day has 14,000 tonnes in store. Authority chiefs say that will be sufficient to last to the New Year and orders have been made for more.

HM Revenue & Customs has confirmed that during extreme weather, farmers can use red diesel in their tractors to help grit and clear snow from roads.