Weather forces pupils to spend night at Hamilton school

Dozens of pupils and staff were forced to spend the night at a South Lanarkshire school after being trapped by the weather conditions.

Hamilton College played host to 123 people, including two nursery children aged three and four.

Evening meals were prepared for pupils, parents and teaching staff after roads in the area became gridlocked.

School principal Margaret Clarke said people slept well and everyone "had been amazing".

She added that it had been fortunate the college's catering manager was one of the people stuck because she was able provide cooked meals to the dozens stranded.

Ms Clarke said the nursery children who stayed overnight were "amazing".

She explained: "We had a number of nursery children here - many were eventually collected, but two were with us all night.

"They were great, they fell asleep at about 6.30pm and had a good night's sleep.

Pupils, staff and parents having breakfast at Hamilton College

"It's testament to the nursery staff that they were so relaxed and at ease staying away from home."

The college was hoping to get everyone away safety during the day and to bring in a plough to clear the staff car park.

The aim was to have doors open again for lessons on Wednesday.

Hamilton College is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged three to 18.

About 650 children attend its nursery, junior and senior schools and there are about 100 teaching and support staff.