Schools close and gritters overturn as Shropshire snow wreaks havoc

Seven schools including Walford and North Shropshire College were closed and an investigation is under way after two gritting lorries overturned, including one near Shrewsbury.

Former X Factor winner Shayne Ward also left music fans disappointed on Saturday after he was forced to cancel a gig in Shrewsbury after he became snowed in.

Over the weekend, one Shropshire Council gritter overturned on a lane near Wentnor Bank and the second got stuck on the B4386 between Worthen and Marton, near Shrewsbury. The local authority said its contractors would be carrying out an investigation into why the accidents happened and said the trucks would be left roadside until it was safe to move them.

Gary Rogers, head of highways for Shropshire Council, said: "The drivers and their mates are okay, thankfully – they are a little bit shook up but they're not injured."

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The council's winter maintenance fleet includes 25 gritters, nine footway ploughs and nine snow blowers.

A Shropshire Council spokesman said the authority still has 10,000 tonnes of grit available for use.

Forecasters said temperatures had plunged as low as -7 (19.4F) in rural parts of the county overnight and warned remaining snow would freeze rapidly and bring blankets of ice to Shropshire's roads.

Emergency services were warning drivers today to proceed with 'extreme caution'.

A woman escaped serious injury when her car skidded off the road and landed upside down in a field at about 11.45pm last night.

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The woman was travelling on the A49 in Little Lyth, near Bayston Hill, when the accident happened.

A spokesperson for Shropshire Fire and Rescue said she had managed to get out of the vehicle before their arrival and had minor injuries.

Schools closed included: Clee Hill Primary, Church Preen Primary, Corbet School, Baschurch, Much Wenlock Primary and Pre-School, Trefonen Primary, Walford & North Shropshire College and Pre-School, and Woodlands School in Wem.

Barrow 1618 Free School was open but the kitchen was closed and St Martin's School was due to open later.

Llanfyllin High School was also shut today as snow meant roads and the school site were unsafe.

All Arriva buses were operating as normal in Telford and Shrewsbury, transport bosses said.