SCHOOLS are closed across Craven today with severe weather conditions expected to last well into the weekend.

Train travel has also been disrupted with cancellations or delays across the Northern Rail network.

Police and fire and rescue services have appealed to people to be extra careful on the roads, and only to travel if absolutely necessary.

Several shops and businesses have closed across the area, and on Skipton High Street, including department store, Rackhams.

Craven District Council suspended bin collections for the second day and a meeting of its Select Committee, due to take place last night, was cancelled.

Pendle Council has also cancelled all collections of recycling and grey bin refuse collections today.

Pendle’s leader for waste and recycling, Councillor David Clegg, said: 
“It’s not been safe for us to get our bin wagons out today due to the appalling weather conditions. Our crews have had to be diverted to clearing snow to make paths in our town centres  which are gritted so people can get around safely.We’ve also been clearing roads and paths so that burials which are booked for today and tomorrow can go ahead – that is a top priority for us."

He added: “As soon as we know what our arrangements will be for catching up, we'll people know via our website www.pendle.gov.uk/disruptions and on the Council’s Facebook and Twitter."
David Walker, Pendle Council’s Environmental Services Manager, said once the council was able to start collecting rubbish again, it would start with general refuse - the grey bins.“We’re asking people who would have had their recycling collections this week to store their recycling until the next collection in a fortnight's time."

He said the decision  had not been taken lightly. 

“Road conditions are making it dangerous for all road users and we felt we had no option but to consider the safety of staff and people who might be affected by bin wagons on the move on wintry streets.We’re asking residents to please be patient and bear with us,” he added.

People with requests about grit bins and road gritting across Pendle should contact Lancashire County Council via their websitewww.lancashire.gov.uk/winter

An amber warning has been issued by the Met Office warning of snow across North Yorkshire, including Craven, throughout today and up until 10am tomorrow (Friday).

A yellow warning has been issued from early tomorrow to just before midnight on Saturday.

A spokesperson for Northern Rail said: "Severe weather - snow and ice - is resulting in delays and cancellations across the rail network with several routes currently blocked because of the wintry conditions."

Rail passengers are due to face further disruption on Saturday (March 3) because of a planned strike by the RMT Union.

A statement on the Northern Rail website reads: "We are concentrating our efforts on running as many services as possible to keep our customers moving and will publish more details as soon as we have them."

Northern Powergrid, responsible for the network that delivers electricity to homes across Craven, says it is using specialist resources to support customers and employees and keep its network operating effectively.
Despite the atrocious weather conditions, the electricity company’s network has performed well over the past 48 hours with fault numbers currently remaining at business as usual levels. 
Through the use of 4x4s and specialist access vehicles, teams from across the business have been able to mobilise and carry out work on the region’s electricity network restoring power as soon as possible for any customers affected by a power cut. 
The company has a helicopter available that is being deployed, weather dependant, to monitor the network and locate faults, allowing staff on the ground to commence any required repair work faster.
It has also cancelled all non-emergency planned power cuts and engineering works until the weather conditions improve. 
Rod Gardner, head of network operations at Northern Powergrid, said: “Across our network fault numbers are similar to those we’d see on a normal day which shows our network is currently performing well, despite the weather conditions. Where our customers have had a power cut our teams were ready to respond, accessing sites in challenging conditions and working to restore electricity supplies as soon as possible.  “Travel and access remains challenging but we’re doing everything we can to be there for our customers. We’re continuing to provide updates through our online power cut map, and are contactable 24/7 on social media (Facebook and @NorthPowergrid) or by calling 105.”

Schools closed today are: Austwick Primary, Bentham Primary, Bradleys Both Primary, Brooklands, Skipton; Brougham Street Nursery, Skipton; Burnsall Primary, Cowling Primary, Cracoe and Rylstone Primary, Embsay Primary, Ermysted's Grammar, Skipton; Gargrave Primary, Glusburn Primary, Grassington Primary, Hellifield Primary, Ingleton Primary, Kettlewell Primary, Kildwick Primary, Long Preston Primary, Lothersdale Primary, Otley Street Nursery, Skipton; Skipton Girls High School, Greatwood Primary, Skipton; Water Street Primary, Skipton; Parish Church Primary, Skipton; St Stephens, Skipton; Sutton-in-Craven Primary, Boyle and Petyt Primary, Skipton Academy, Thornton-in-Craven Primary, Threshfield Primary, Upper Wharfedale, Threshfield.