The London Daily News

News Desk

Whitehall is apparently "forcing" local authorities to keep schools open despite freezing temperatures, heavy snow and dangerous footpaths, in order to prevent major disruptions to private and public sector bodies, small businesses and the critical time for consumer spending before Christmas.

Today in north London, most of the local authorities including Enfield, Barnet, Haringey have advised parents that school closures is a decision to be made by the head teacher and the chair of the governors, and not solely on local authority advice.

Thousands of parents in London will be walking or driving children in sub-zero temperatures hoping that the weather will not deteriorate further in the later part of the day. 
Areas of Kent, Essex, Surrey have all seen major disruptions to schools with thousands reported to have closed because of the snow.

One parent who contacted The London Daily News said it was "astounding" that her child’s school remained opened today when the footpaths had not been gritted and roads were so "icy".