SNOWFALL closed schools across Oxfordshire and caused major delays for commuters this week.

Dozens of schools were shut yesterday because of heating problems or because staff were concerned about the safety of parents and pupils trying to reach classes.

Roads and pavements were treacherous after Sunday night’s snow thawed and refroze over-night.

There were predictions of more snow flurries and sleet last night.

The Met Office said 3cm of snow was recorded on Monday at Benson, and about 2cm at Brize Norton yesterday.

Oxfordshire County Council sent out 17 gritting lorries on Sunday night.

However, the county largely escaped the troubles of other towns and cities — notably London — where public transport suffered badly on Monday.

A South Central Amb-ulance spokesman said: “We treated a few people for minor injuries after they slipped and fell, but, amazingly, we were not called to any road accidents.

“Bus services in Oxford ran without serious delay and major road routes remained largely clear.”

Train services from Oxford were disrupted, however, with reduced services running to London Paddington and delays of up to an hour on CrossCountry services bet-ween the south coast and the Midlands.

Rail passengers travelling on First Great Western services between Reading and London Paddington suffered severe delays and passengers travelling from Oxford to Bicester were forced to get the bus.

Chiltern Railways, which runs trains between London Marylebone, Hadd-enham and Thame Parkway, Bicester North, Banbury, Leamington and Birmingham, ran services “as near normal” as possible, but advised passengers not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

CrossCountry services, running trains between Birmingham and Bourne-mouth, advised passengers to expect delays, with some services running up to an hour late.

Bus services were suspended in London, with some London Underground services also cancelled. Heathrow Airport was closed after a plane skidded on the runway and British Airways cancelled all flights until 5pm. Oxford Bus Company ran coaches to Heathrow, but coaches to Gatwick were suspended.