Snow closes school

PUPILS at St John's Primary School, Wetley Rocks have been given a day off after the winter weather forced the school to close.

Across Staffordshire motorists have faced long delays as they negotiated snow covered roads.

Last night gritters were out through the night on roads across Staffordshire and Cheshire following a severe weather warning from the Met Office.

Up to five centimetres of heavy snow is expected today in parts of the Midlands and Cheshire following flurries and icy temperatures yesterday.

In Stoke-on-Trent, nine gritters were dispatched at 6pm last night to cover A and B roads and major bus routes.

Cheshire County Council's 35-vehicle fleet of gritters started work on all routes across the county at 4pm yesterday.

Staffordshire County Council's 55-strong fleet was also on the road.

The lowest temperature was -4C last night. Today's temperature is expected to reach 3C.