MORE than 50 schools in The Gazette area have closed this morning because of heavy snow.

Yesterday the Met Office issued a weather warning, which included Basingstoke, forecasting snowfall from 9am this morning. But the reality was that by the time people made their way to work or school, there was already a few centimetres of snow settled on the ground, resulting in many schools taking an early decision to shut, before children arrived.

A full list of closures is below.

Gazette reporter Adam Richards has been out and about this morning in Basingstoke. He said: “Everywhere is deserted. I thought there would be loads of families playing snowballs at Eastrop Park but it’s very quiet.”

Brighton Hill Community School

Burghclere Primary School

Burnham Copse Primary School

Buryfields Infant school

Castle Hill Pre School

Chalk Ridge Primary School

Chiltern Primary School

Clere School and Technology College

Cliddesden Primary School

The Costello School

Dove House School

Everest Community Academy

Fairfield Infant School

Fort Hill Community School

Great Binfields Primary School

Hatch Warren Infant School

Hatch Warren Junior School

Hook Junior School

Hurst Community College

Kempshott Infant and Junior Schools

Kings Furlong Infant School

Kings Furlong Junior School

Kingsclere Primary School

Limington House School

Maple Ridge School

Marnel Infant School

Marnel Junior School

Mayhill Junior School

Merton Infant School

Merton Junior School

North Waltham Primary School

Oakley Junior School

Oakley Infant School

Oakridge Junior School

Old Basing Infant School

Overton Primary School

Park view Infant School

Park view Junior School

Rucstall Primary School

Saxon Wood School

Sherborne St John Primary School

Silchester Primary School

South View Infant School

South View Junior School

St Anne’s Primary School

St Bede’s Primary School

St Mark’s Primary School

St Mary’s Junior School

Tadley Primary School

Testbourne Community School

Winklebury Infant School Winklebury Junior School