MORE than 20 schools have been closed today due to the bad weather.

Bin collections have been suspended and residents are asked to bring their bins back in and put them out on the next scheduled bin collection day.

Council staff have been gritting all of the designated routes across Bolton.

The gritting vehicles cover 510km of roads. Ploughs are deployed where snow is 2.5cm deep or greater.

The decision to close a school is taken by the headteacher in consideration of the individual circumstances at their own premises.

Parents are urged to contact the school directly for the most up-to-date information.

The schools that have closed so far are:

• Alexandra Nursery ( Nursery side provision closed but the day care side is still open at present)
• Brandwood
• Brownlow Fold
• Chorley New Road
• Claypool
• Eatock
• Harper Green
• Highfield
Horwich Parish
Ladybridge Primary
• Lever Park
• Lord St
Lostock
• Markland Hill
• Moorgate
• Mytham
• Our Lady of Lourdes
• Oxford Grove
• Pikes Lane
• Queensbridge
• Red Lane
• Rivington & Blackrod High
• St Bartholomews

  • St Catherine’s Horwich
  • St Pauls Academy

• St Ethelberts
• St Georges
• St Joseph’s High
• St Josephs Halliwell
• St Mary’s Horwich
• St Matthews Bolton
• St Thomas Halliwell
Westhoughton High