Heavy snow closes 42 schools across county

Dorrington in Shropshire on Wednesday morning

More than 40 schools across Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin shut on Wednesday, after heavy snow caused chaos on roads.

Twenty nine schools shut in Telford and Wrekin because of the conditions, with two opening later in the day.

In Shropshire, 13 shut their doors, with an additional two partially shut.

The snow also caused several accidents across the county, including one car flipping onto its roof on Lincoln Hill, Ironbridge. Shrewsbury's Christmas lights switch-on event will still go ahead, although Santa may have to borrow a sleigh, the rotary club said.

Snow in Telford and Wrekin on Wednesday morning

Elsewhere, gritters with snow ploughs were at the scene of an accident on Rampart Way, near junction five of the M54 in Telford.

Because of excessive snow on roads, bin collections were delayed in Telford and Wrekin.

The council asked residents to leave their bins out if they had not yet been emptied.

"We will collect as soon as possible," the authority said on social media.

"If we haven't been able to empty your green bin, please put it out on your next collection."

Snow covered everything in sight in this field in Church Stretton

Shrewsbury's annual Christmas lights switch-on will still go ahead, but the weather held up Santa's sleigh.

Shrewsbury Rotary Club had hoped to bring him into the town on their new "anti-gravity ski sleigh", but will now use a borrowed sleigh instead.

"We apologise to enthusiasts for any disappointment this will cause,” said Santa.

“But Rudolph wisely took the decision that under the circumstances we shouldn’t make the trip in the new sleigh for safety reasons."

A yellow weather warning for ice is in place in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin on Thursday.

No snow is forecast, but low temperatures will continue.