A group of caretakers worked through the early hours of the morning to ensure their school was open for business.

Five members of staff from Westcliff High School for Boys in Kenilworth Gardens were on site clearing the snow, while all the children were still sleeping, clearing the road and driveway to the school to make sure they could safely get to school.

The group of staff; Mr Marlow, Mr Hacker, Mr Hill, Mr Evans and Mr Palmer have been arriving at the school at around 3am, to get the clear up job underway.

While more than 50 schools in Southend have closed with some expecting to remain closed for the rest of the week, Westcliff's headteacher, Mike Skelly, declared the school will be open.

Following confirmation the school will remain open for the coming days, Mr Skelly recognised that there had been some backlash from parents about the decision.

He also advised pupils not to take "unreasonable risks" when trying to get into the school.

Mr Skelly said: "The decision reached to keep Westcliff High School for Boys open in such circumstances, is not going to please everyone.

"However, we consider that we offer an important service to the community and one on which many people rely.

"We are equally mindful that we have many pupils working towards important examinations and they may wish to utilise the school’s facilities.

"We cannot pretend it can be business as usual and we do not ask that people take unreasonable risks, but just wish our school community to know that our doors remain open."

David Partridge, director of resources at Westcliff expressed his pride for the staff who had worked through the night in order to keep the school open.

The Westcliff premises team's hard work meant that more than 400 pupils and 90 per cent of staff from the school were safely able to get onto the grounds for the day.

Mr Partridge said: “I would like to pay tribute to our fantastic Premises Team, some of whom have been in School since before 3.00am over the last two days.

"Mr Marlow, Mr Hacker, Mr Hill, Mr Evans and Mr Palmer have ensured that access for our pupils and staff is safe and that their education can continue.

"Almost 90 per cent of our staff arrived at work before the start of the School day and therefore lessons have been able to continue as scheduled.”