Whitehaven News

Cumbria kids return to school after snow day-off

Last updated 09:18, Friday, 09 January 2009

Thousands of schoolchildren returned to school today after a day-off courtesy of the heavy snow that fell across Cumbria.

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An Education spokesperson said that no schools were closed today.

Thousands of Cumbrian schoolchildren were handed an extra day’s holiday yesterday (Wednesday) as ice and snow gripped Cumbria.

More than 36 schools were forced to close because of the weather just as youngsters across the county were due to restart classes after their festive holidays.

Snow created treacherous driving conditions across Cumbria and police urged drivers not to make any unnecessary journeys.

Temperatures in the county again fell below freezing on Tuesday night with a severe weather warning issued and the snow causing problems on trans-Pennine routes during the early hours. Up to five inches of snow fell in some areas.

The M6 was also pushed down to one lane in places for a time.

Snow began falling in Carlisle and elsewhere across north Cumbria on Tuesday evening with many spotted enjoying the wintry conditions and throwing snowballs.

But the weather caused problems for some getting to work on Wednesday , with police warning motorists to take care on minor roads which may have been untreated.

The A69 was closed at about 1.30am to allow access to gritters and ploughs, after a lorry got stuck in the heavy snowfall. A second HGV caused an obstruction on the A66 at Stainmore, when it had difficulty climbing the hill at around 2am

Schools closed in Cumbria, included:

Ullswater Community College, Penrith;
Upperby Primary School, Carlisle;
Hunter Hall School, Frenchfield, Penrith;
Appleby Grammar School;
Culgaith Church of England School;
Newtown Primary School, Carlisle;
Stainton Primary School, Penrith;
Warcop Church of England Primary School;
Kirkby Stephen Primary School;
Fir Ends School, Brampton;
Appleby Primary School;
Milburn Primary School;
Old Hutton CofE Primary School, near Kendal;
Armathwaite First School;
Brunswick School, Penrith;
Lowther Endowed School, Hackthorpe;
Kirkby Stephen Grammar School;
Long Marton Primary School, near Appleby;
Crosby Ravensworth School;
Orton Primary School;
Beaconside Primary School, Penrith;
Bolton Primary School, near Appleby;
Langwathby Primary;
Carlisle Achievement Zone, Abbey Street;
Inglewood Infants School, Carlisle;
Ivegill Church of England Primary School;
Lazonby Church of England Primary School;
Brampton Primary School;
Warwick Bridge Primary School, near Carlisle;
High Hesket School;
Skelton Primary, near Penrith;
Lanercost Primary, near Brampton;
Gilsland CofE School;
Lees Hill School; north of Brampton
Brough Primary School;
Asby Endowed School, near Appleby

Although there were was no snow in Workington, Victoria Infant and Nursery School was closed because of water and heating problems. North of the border, Annan Academy was also closed because of a heating failure.

Despite not being closed, pupils at William Howard secondary in Brampton faced problems reaching school with a number of bus services, including those from Castle Carrock, Heads Nook, Great Corby and Longtown cancelled.

The snowfall has been the culmination of several days of sub-zero temperatures across Cumbria, which have prompted warnings for people to take extra care and stay off frozen lakes, including Derwentwater, near Keswick.

Shap, near Penrith, was named as the coldest place in England on Monday, with temperatures falling to minus 11C.

But forecasters believe the worst should now be over and predict warmer weather towards the end of the week.

After more sub-zero temperatures last night, Carlisle is set to reach highs of 6C today, with Penrith expected to reach 2C. Whitehaven and Workington will both peak at 7C, with heavy cloud expected throughout the day.

A Met Office spokesman said we should see temperatures gradually increase over the next few days.

He warned, however, that conditions would still be cold enough to pose a significant health risk.

He said: “It’s estimated that 25,000 excess deaths occur across the country each winter due to cold weather. We’ve been working with the Department of Health to try and encourage people to take the right precautions.”

Their cold weather alert service, currently on trial across the north west, rates current conditions as red, meaning vulnerable people such as children, the elderly, disabled and those with long-term health problems should take extra care to keep warm.

But it’s not just people at risk from the cold weather. Yesterday saw thousands of cars break down across the UK, with record numbers calling for emergency help during the rush hour.

The AA and RAC said the situation was worse than it had been since 2004.

An AA spokesman added: “We were getting 2,800 call-outs for assistance every hour. People must be prepared – we cannot highlight enough how important it is for travellers to take extra layers with them.”

And United Utilities urged Cumbrians to protect their homes and water supplies by keeping an eye out for damaged pipes. Outside pipes are at particular risk of bursting when the predicted thaw takes place.

Gary Dixon, the firm’s director of water operations, said they have extra engineers on standby in case leaks are reported in their pipes. He added: “Our aim is to respond quickly and fix any damage to protect customer’s supplies and prevent unnecessary water leaking at this time of the year.”

Customers can help prevent burst pipes at home by checking their internal pipe work, cisterns and tanks in unheated areas. They should all be well insulated, with no gaps at bends, tees or valves. If you notice water leaking from pipes outside, call United Utilities’ Leakline on 0800 330033. For more information about cold weather alerts, visit www.metoffice.gov.uk.

Keep up to date with the weather latest at www.newsandstar.co.uk.If you have any travel information, snow pictures or comments on the weather please send them to the News & Star.