DOZENS of schools across Northern Ireland have been forced to close on Tuesday, after heavy snow brought chaos on Monday night.
Many motorists had to abandon their vehicles as the latest blizzard conditions hit parts of Co Down and Co Antrim.
On Tuesday morning, there were reports that a gritting lorry had crashed.
A spokesperson for the Roads Service said: “A Met Office Yellow Warning of Ice remains in place. Salting operations are continuing on the scheduled network this morning with ploughing ongoing where required.
“Additional contractor resources have also been deployed in areas of the north-east to assist with snow removal.
“There are reports of particularly difficult conditions this morning in the Lisburn, Comber, Ballygowan, Upper Braniel, Craigantlet hills, Gilnahirk, Ballynahinch, Downpatrick and Saintfield areas. The B27 Moyad Road over Spelga also currently remains closed.
“Heavy snow affected many roads yesterday evening and last night, particularly in Eastern and Southern areas, resulting in very difficult driving conditions. Roads Service undertook salting and ploughing operations from early afternoon on a continual basis in the affected areas, but the operations were affected by the intensity of the snow, the volume of very slow moving traffic, and in places by a number of broken down or abandoned vehicles.
“Areas particularly affected last night included Belfast, the Greater Lisburn area, the Templepatrick hills, Comber, Saintfield, Ballygowan, Hillsborough, Carryduff, the Castlereagh hills, Dundonald, Holywood, Moira, Ballynahinch, Dromore, Dromara, Banbridge, Rathfriland and Castlewellan.
“Motorists are advised to exercise caution when travelling this morning, particularly when driving on untreated roads. Motorists are also advised to allow extra time for journeys, to drive with care even if roads have been salted, to be prepared for conditions changing over relatively short distances and to take care if overtaking gritting vehicles.”
Below, is a list of schools which have contacted the BBC to inform the public that they will be closed on Tuesday.
Ashgrove Primary School, Newtownabbey
Ballysillan Primary School, North Belfast
Edmund Rice College, Glengormley
Seymour Hill Primary School, Dunmurry
Alexander Dickson Primary School, Ballygowan
Carrickmannon Primary School, Ballygowan
Wallace High School & Preparatory Dept, Lisburn
Drumlins Integrated Primary School, Ballynahinch
McKinney Primary School, Dundrod
Dunmurry Primary School
Spa Primary, Ballynahinch
Lough View Integrated Primary and Nursery School, Castlereagh
St. Mary’s Primary School, Killyleagh
St Aidan’s CBPS, west Belfast
Laurelhill Community College, Lisburn
Moneyrea Primary School, Moneyreagh, County Down
Mallusk Primary School, Mallusk, County Antrim
Holy Cross, Atticall/Kilkeel, County Down
Killowen primary school, Lisburn, County Antrim
St. Kieran’s Primary School, Poleglass, County Antrim
Academy Primary & Nursery School, Saintfield, County Down
Ballymacward Pre-School Playgroup, Stoneyford
Parkview Special School, Lisburn
Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch
St Oliver Plunkett, west Belfast
Holy Trinity Primary School, Belfast
St Joseph’s, Carryduff
Fort hill college, Lisburn
Derryboy Primary School, Crossgar, Downpatrick
St Teresa’s Nursery School, Bearnagh Glen, Belfast
St Kieran’s Nursery School, Poleglass
Holy Trinity Nursery School, Lisburn
Iveagh Primary School, Rathfriland
Holy Child PS, west Belfast
Comments