Weather forces schools to close

Hundreds of schools have been forced to close today due to the snow.

All schools in Westminster, central London are closed to pupils.

More than 50 schools in Kent have shut, with primaries and secondaries in towns including Gillingham, Rochester and Maidstone affected.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families said they expected to get a clearer pictures of how many schools are closed nationally later in the day.

A spokesman said they hoped schools would remain open where possible.

He said: "It is for individual schools to make any decision to close but we expect headteachers to take a common sense approach based on the conditions at the school and also the safety of any pupils travelling.

"We will be monitoring the situation day by day and we would hope that headteachers can keep schools open while it is safe for them to do so, but decisions about closure have to be taken locally by those who know the local conditions."