Business groups have criticised councils for closing clutches of schools in expectation of bad weather, as Wales, the Midlands, Scotland and Northern Ireland braced themselves for further heavy snowfalls.

The high number of parents unexpectedly landed with childcare has sharply increased absenteeism at the workplace. Birmingham Chamber of Commerce warned the city council against “taking the easy option” and closing all its 600 schools again this week. Bradford Chamber of Commerce directed a dig at teachers, saying: “People should not crawl back under the duvet at first sight of a snowflake.”