Weather Update: School closures, gritting runs, buses...

WHITE WATER: Babbs Mill earlier today
Picture by Jayne Robinson

ALL Solihull Council-run schools will be closed tomorrow (Monday) in response to heavy snowfall.
The blanket closure, affecting all schools which are part of the local authority, was confirmed this afternoon.
Academies, which are independent of the borough council, have been left to make their own decision - although the advice of officers has been for them to follow suit.
By 6pm this evening, Park Hall, CTC Kingshurst Academy, Grace Academy, Smith's Wood Academy and John Henry Newman Catholic College had all posted notices on their respective websites to confirm they would not be opening.
Solihull Council has announced that its gritting teams will be out at 7pm and again at 4am in an effort to keep the roads clear.
While current forecasts suggest that snow will stop falling before dawn, there are concerns that the freezing temperatures will make for treacherous conditions - particularly on the side streets which are untreated by gritting lorries.
National Express West Midlands - which suspended all bus services earlier today - has said it will be providing an update as to which routes will be operating tomorrow at around 5am.