South of Scotland schools shut as freeze continues

Schools across southern Scotland will stay shut on Tuesday

All schools in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway are to stay closed as cold weather continues to affect the region.

Borders council officers staged a teleconference on Sunday to discuss the situation and took the decision.

Neighbouring Dumfries and Galloway Council had originally intended to keep its schools open but confirmed late on Monday that they would also stay shut.

Pupils were due to return on Tuesday but will now await council decisions on when their schools can reopen.

Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker and chief executive David Hume were involved in the weekend meeting to discuss the situation.

Continued low temperatures and a forecast of 20cm (8in) of snow prompted the decision to keep schools shut.

Social work day centres in the region will also stay closed.

A statement by the council said the situation would be reviewed regularly as the week progressed.

Prevailing conditions

It said: "Where staff can travel to their schools, they will be expected to attend and prepare for the start of the new term.

"Parents are asked to keep in touch with local radio stations for regular news updates about the situation on Tuesday 5 January and subsequent days.

"Decisions about school openings on these days will depend on the prevailing and forecast weather conditions."

In neighbouring Dumfries and Galloway, schools had been expected to reopen as normal on Tuesday.

The council said main transport routes were clear.

However, it later announced that it would take similar action to the Borders and close its schools for at least another day.

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