ALL SCHOOLS in Machynlleth and Llanidloes were closed on Monday as heavy snow and plummeting temperatures made many roads impassable.­

The A44 between Aberystwyth and Llangurig was closed for over six hours from just after noon on Sunday after a foot of snow fell on higher ground.

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.

There were also reports of a fallen tree on the A470 between Cemmaes and Penegoes on Sunday afternoon.

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

These included Ysgol Bro Hyddgen’s primary and secondary campuses in Machynlleth; Llanidloes primary and secondary schools; Ysgol Glantwymyn; and Ysgol Llanbrynmair.

Powys County Council said on Monday that it had cancelled its scheduled refuse collection for Monday and Tuesday because of the weather.

The council will inform affected residents of updated arrangements.

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.

See this week’s Machynlleth & Llanidloes paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition tomorrow