And the lesson for tomorrow: more sledging

...AND THE LESSON FOR TOMORROW IS SLEDGING

Children across Britain were tonight anticipating another day off school as the snow continued to fall.

Thousands of youngsters have enjoyed a day of lessons in tobogganing and making snowmen after schools throughout England and Wales were forced to close due to the adverse weather conditions.

The situation is likely to be similar again tomorrow, with some schools sending pupils home this afternoon in anticipation of more bad weather.

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said they believed the vast majority of London schools had closed.

In Westminster, Southwark, Newham, Hounslow, Bromley, Barnet and Richmond there were virtually no schools open, he said, and there were also some indications that there would be closures again tomorrow.

The spokesman said more than 1,500 schools were closed across the South East, while in Yorkshire and Humberside it is believed 441 were closed, especially in Kirklees and north Yorkshire.

The East Midlands are believed to have 244 schools closed, mostly in Leicestershire, he said.

Around six schools were closed in Bournemouth, 17 schools and three pre-schools in Poole and 48 in the rest of Dorset.

Schools were shut across the counties of Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire but Leicestershire and Rutland's appeared the worst hit in the region, with more than 200 closed.

All adult learning classes in Leicestershire were also cancelled.

Schools in southern England were among the worst affected

In Essex alone, around 400 schools were closed, about three quarters of the schools in the county.

A council spokesman said schools had taken the decision to close with the interests of the safety of children in mind.

Hampshire County Council said most of its 540 schools were closed due to the weather.

In Oxfordshire, 31 schools were either closed for the day or closed this afternoon, the county council said.

In Surrey, all schools were closed while more than 150 more were forced to shut in Buckinghamshire.

Scores of schools across Cambridgeshire were also closed.

One of Cambridge's best-known private schools, The Perse Upper School, opened during the morning, but shut early to ensure youngsters had enough time to get home.

More than 160 schools closed in Kent with more reportedly shutting in the afternoon.

More than 50 schools in Birmingham and the Black Country closed their doors, while in the North East, Northumberland and Durham the worst affected.

In Cumbria, 123 schools were closed, the county council said.

Lancashire County Council said that 19 schools were shut, with the majority in East Lancashire.

In Greater Manchester, two schools were closed in Bury, one in Salford and one in Rochdale as a result of the adverse weather conditions.

Around 50 schools across Wales were closed because of the weather, with Powys and Rhondda Cynon Taf the worst affected.

Almost 40 schools were closed in Herefordshire today, with 16 announcing closures for tomorrow. Birmingham City Council said more than 100 of its schools closed today, with many remaining closed tomorrow.