SCHOOLS and businesses were on standby yesterday to prepare for the snow.

After the Met Office issued a yellow warning for snow and ice, precautionary measures were swiftly put in place.

One employer in Swindon took the initiative to ensure employees didn't take unnecessary risks.

Mike Lloyd at accountants Haines Watts, on Newport Street, said: We have a very simple policy. Everyone here is an adult and we make it clear to them that they only travel -whether by car, public transport or walking - if they are completely comfortable to do so. If they are not then they are told to stay home.

"Of course we are all able to work remotely so we encourage them to plan ahead and take work home in case they cannot get in."

Lainesmead Primary School sent out a letter to parents to notify them that all after school clubs were cancelled yesterday afternoon as a precaution and put them on alert that the school will close on Friday if conditions get too bad.

It added that it will notify parents by 6.45am whether to stay open.

The Wiltshire Health and Care Partnership tweeted to reassure patients that staff were ensuring a minimum impact on services. "Our clinics will go ahead and patient care will continue as usual," it added.

GWR and Stagecoach West encouraged passengers to check their websites for regular updates to their services in the morning and was already issuing warnings of delays to some services last night.

Wiltshire and Swindon Borough Council gritters are expected to cover the main roads but warned of going down smaller and narrower roads which wouldn't be coverd.