AN infant school and two primary schools in East Lancashire have been forced to close due to icy conditions.

School bosses at Nelson Whitefield Infant School and Nursery Unit, on Every Street; St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Bacup, and Accrington Huncoat Primary School have made the decision to close today because the areas surrounding it are considered a severe health and safety risk to students and parents.

A school spokesman from Accrington Huncoat Primary School, on Lynwood Road, said the school has shut today because there is sheet ice on the surrounding roads, playgrounds and entrance to the school. 

Bosses at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Huttock End Lane, Bacup said they have closed the school because the hill that the school is on is a ‘sheet of ice’ and dangerous to walk or drive on.

A spokesman from Nelson Whitefield Infant School said: “The pavements on the main road outside the front of school and the side roads leading to the pupil entrances to school were lethal.

“We did open yesterday and many parents and pupils fell, today is even worse.”