A HEADTEACHER today warned that schools will close in snowy weather because they fear parents will sue them.

David Whalley, headteacher of Audley Junior School in Queens Park Road, was one of eight headteachers in Blackburn with Darwen who took the decision to keep his school shut.

He said: "I think as recently as five years ago we would have opened and just tried to get the children in.

"But in the last couple of years Britain as a whole has become a much more litigious society.

"We have a junior school, and infant school and a nursery all on one site and there was just no way we could clear the snow.

"If a parent came to the school and slipped, or their child did, they would immediately demand to know why we hadn't cleared the snow and they may have sued us.

"I'm not saying the fact we are so risk-conscious now is a bad thing, but I think it will mean that as soon as it snows here we will have to shut the school."

Blackburn with Darwen Council said it had received notification of eight schools which had closed, although several others reported they had closed.

They included Cedars Primary, Hawthornes Primary, Roman Road Primary, Audley Juniors, Audley Infants, St Barnabas & St Paul Primary , St James', Blackburn, and Bank Hey Special School.

Peter Morgan, director of education and lifelong learning, said: "The decision to close schools due to adverse weather conditions is a decision taken by each school on the basis of local information.

"Schools take those decisions in the context of LEA advice that the closure of a school should take place if this course of action is unavoidable.

"Schools, when taking such decisions, will have regard to both the health and safety of both staff and pupils, including the capacity of the school to supervise pupils.

"We regret that a number of schools either close or are operate on a shorter basis than usual.

"However, I am sure that each school made decisions for the right reasons."