Published at 13:21, Sunday, 27 January 2013

HEAVY snow caused chaos on roads across Cumbria.

GO SLOW: Drivers negotiate snowy road conditions on Abbey Road in Barrow after much of South Cumbria saw heavy snowfall yesterday. Inset, it wasn’t all ‘snow chaos’ – sisters Danielle, 12, Ferrari, four, and Ruby Caine, 20 months, have fun in the snow on Ramsden Street, Barrow ASHTON BOWRON REF:50043728B004 & LINDSEY DICKINGS REF: 50043728B001

A weather warning was issued for the whole of Cumbria yesterday, which continues into today, after forecasts of heavy snow.

The snow caused delays and collisions on roads across the county.

Barrow police reported crashes and difficult driving conditions and urged motorists not to go out unless it was urgent.

Officers posted a number of warnings on Twitter, advising motorists to avoid Hollygate Road in Dalton and the roads near Kirkby – where a car ended up on its side on the A5092 at Grizebeck. Park Road in Barrow and the A595 at Askam were also badly affected.

A number of schools were closed because of the weather.

Captain Shaw’s, in Bootle, and Thwaites School, near Millom, both closed yesterday while children from Grasmere Primary School were sent home in a minibus.

Millom School also took the decision to send children home at lunchtime.

Headteacher Ian Smith said: “We shut the school on the basis of keeping everybody safe travelling to and from the school.

“Our bus providers contacted us at 9.15am to express concerns as to whether they would be able to get the students home. So a decision was made to shut the school at lunchtime.”

Forecasters said the temperature is expected to rise in the coming days, with the snow due to make way for rain from today.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk