NINE Bolton schools stayed closed on Thursday because headteachers feared the icy conditions were still too dangerous for pupils.

The Arctic conditions which brought chaos to Bolton on Wednesday, forced the closure of 13 schools because of the disruption to school bus services and because staff could not get to work.

Some headteachers were also worried by the threat of legal action if a child was injured at school. They said schools simply did not have the money to pay for all the grit needed to clear the ice.

Turton High School headteacher Frank Vigon, who was stranded at his home in Macclesfield said: "The safety of the pupils is my main concern. We simply cannot afford to grit the whole of the school site. I don't want the pupils to be put at risk.

"There is also a legal question. If a pupil falls and is injured, then the school is liable. I also have to think about my staff -- it took some teachers three hours to get home last night."

But a number of parents complained they had not been properly notified about the closures and claimed the pupils should have been kept in school, as most of Bolton roads were clear today.

On Thursday, Canon Slade, George Tomlinson High School in Kearsley, Thornleigh Salesian College, Rumworth, Greenfold and Firwood Special Schools and Smithills High School remained closed for a second day, with St Peter's Smithills Dean Primary School, and Turton High School in Bromley Cross also opting to shut for the day.

The schools are expected to open as usual on Friday.

On Wednesday, some schools such as the Deane School and St Simon and St Jude's Primary School closed initially only to reopen when more staff and pupils managed to make it to school.

Smithills Deputy Headteacher Ken Howell said: "We closed the school on Wednesday afternoon. Children can stay in school if they cannot get home. We have closed due to the dangerous icy conditions on the site - there is too much ice about. We couldn't risk the safety of the students."

All the schools that closed for the day will have to forfeit a day's holiday to make up for the time lost in their education.

A Bolton Council spokesperson explained the official policy regarding school closures.

"In regard to school closures, the decision is down to headteachers. Schools do need to ensure children's safety and make sure there is somewhere for them to go. Children can go home if the school knows there is someone at home to receive them. Otherwise they have to stay in school and the school must ensure they get home safely."

The schools closed for a variety of reasons. In some cases not enough staff managed to make it into school because of traffic chaos caused by the snow. At some schools, bus services could not guarantee that they could provide buses on time, while at other schools the school grounds became unsafe because of large amounts of ice.

Sandra Mackay, Acting Deputy Headteacher of Thornleigh Salesian College, said they closed the school at 1.30pm on Wednesday because the bus companies they use could not guarantee that services would arrive on time.

One angry parent, a mother with two pupils at Thornleigh Salesian College, said: "The first I knew about the closure was when I heard it on the radio. I called the school and they said that the grounds were just too dangerous and the school was closed."

"The children were sent home yesterday afternoon because of fears for their

safety but there was no warning for today. We were in the dark."

An angry parent at Canon Slade School said the pupils who had managed to arrive at school should have stayed there and made to do homework in the school hall.

The schools that closed yesterday were Canon Slade School, Castle Hill Primary School, Firwood Special School, George Tomlinson High School, Greenfold Special School, Hayward High School, Ladywood Primary School, Lever Park Special School, Oldhams Primary School, Rumworth Special School, Smithills High School, Valley Park Primary School, Tonge Moor Primary School and Bolton Music Service.

Commuters early today did not have the same difficulties they faced yesterday, when some motorists took two hours to travel the two miles from Breightmet to the town centre.

The main routes across the borough were clear this morning but many side roads were still quite treacherous.

The snow which had fallen yesterday had frozen overnight and made road surfaces very slippery. There were further flurries early today.

Traffic Police in Bolton were again warning drivers to be aware of the wintery driving conditions.

A spokesman said: "Take care when you are driving around the region.

"Watch your speed and keep a good distance from the vehicle infront.

"Be extra careful on the side roads but they are still quite dangerous."

Train and bus operators said there had been little or no problems early today.

Train services running through Bolton were either on time or late by only a few minutes.

It looks like the worst of the Arctic weather has passed.

A spokesman for the Press Association Weather Centre said Bolton would warm up slightly in the next few days.

She added: "It was not due to be quite as cold today, about 4-5C. There was a risk of a few snow showers coming in from the Irish Sea this afternoon but it shouldn't have been too bad. By the evening it should be dry.

"Tomorrow, it will be milder, about 7C, but there will be a lot of cloud about and rain is on the way, I'm afraid."