FIFTEEN schools around Aberystwyth were closed on Monday as heavy snow and plummeting temperatures made many roads impassable.

The two main arterial routes servicing Aberystwyth to the north and south, the A44 and A487 trunk roads, were closed for several hours on Sunday after a foot of snow fell on higher ground, causing treacherous driving conditions.

The A487 was closed in both directions between Aberaeron and Llanrhystud from 9.34am until 12.13pm after a landslide blocked the road.

And the A44 became impassable and was closed to traffic between Aberystwyth and Llangurig for over six hours from 12.19pm until 6.24pm.

Fire crews from Aberystwyth responded at 4.53pm on Friday, 9 December, after a car left the A44 road between Ponterwyd and Llangurig.

All persons were accounted for by police, who were already in attendance, prior to the arrival of the fire service. Firefighters left the scene at 5.34pm.

With a yellow warning of ice in place for the area on Monday morning, many schools informed parents of their decision to close on Sunday night.

These included Penweddig and Penglais secondary schools; St Padarn’s School in Llanbadarn Fawr; Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa in Borth; Ysgol Llwyn yr Eos in Penparcau; Ysgol Penllwyn in Capel Bangor; Ysgol Rhos y Wlad in Bronant; and primary schools in Llanfarian, Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, Llangwyryfon, Llanilar, Llanon, Penrhyncoch, Rhydypennau, and Talybont.

South Ceredigion remained largely snow-free as the rest of the county awoke to a blanket of snow over the weekend.

Although a few inches of show was reported at Ffostrasol and Crymych, residents of Cardigan and Aberporth received just a few showers of light sleet, although Dyfed-Powys Police warned motorists to take extra care, particularly on minor roads.

Ceredigion County Council said on Monday that some residents’ scheduled waste collection would be affected by the weather.

A council spokesperson said: “All treated routes are passable with care, and the Council is now turning its attention to some of the as yet untreated routes as resources allow.

“Crews have worked 24 hours a day throughout the weekend to keep the identified pre-treatment routes open.

“Hard frost is again expected overnight Monday, and the council will be reverting to its gritting schedule from 4pm, and will continue to grit those primary routes as appropriate overnight.

“We will endeavour to carry out waste and recycling collections but the service will be affected today due to the weather conditions. If waste is not collected it should be re-presented on the next scheduled collection day.”

Rail services between Aberystwyth and Birmingham were also heavily disrupted on Sunday, largely due to snow and ice in the Shropshire and West Midlands area.

The Arriva Trains Wales 9.51am service from Birmingham International to Aberystwyth was terminated at Shrewsbury; the 1.30pm Aberystwyth to Birmingham Int service was cancelled; the 4.07pm and 6.07pm Birmingham Int to Aberystwyth service was 25 minutes and 40 minutes late respectively; the 6.28pm Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth service was cancelled; the 6.55pm Machynlleth to Pwlleli service was running 30 minutes late; and the 7.30pm Aberystwyth to Birmingham Int service ran 40 minutes late.

The road conditions limited what Arriva Trains Wales could offer in the way of rail replacement bus services.

An Arriva Trains Wales spokesperson added: “It has been a very challenging few days due to the poor weather conditions but we’ve been working round the clock alongside our partners in Network Rail to keep stations ice free and the lines clear for our customers.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience as we do our best to keep services as free from disruption as possible.”