Fears of costly compensation claims forced 289 schools in Essex to close leaving 80,000 pupils at home during the ice and snow.

Closed - locked gates at Earls Hall School, Southend Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Thousands of parents were left scrambling to arrange supervision for their children, resulting in many missing work themselves.

The majority of schools that closed were in the Essex local authority area. In addition to those were nine of Southend's 62 schools and 16 of Thurrock's 61 schools.

The number of closures contrasted starkly with businesses in the area, most of which stayed open.

Bob Knight, headteacher of Darlinghurst Primary and Nursery School, in Pavilion Drive, Leigh, said: "We took the decision to close the school because we have a network of footpaths that were absolutely treacherous.

"By the time I got to school four members of staff were unable to get in. We have to consider the health and safety of the children and parents first and foremost.

"There is also the risk of parents taking legal action if they take a fall on school land. We can't risk that."

Published Friday January 30, 2004