Last update: 12.15am, Thursday

Schools in the Isle of Man are reopening today.

The Department of Education confirmed the news yesterday evening, in the light of improved conditions on the majority of roads, and the fact most main route bus services had returned to normal.

After an extra two days off for 12,500 pupils, due to the wintry weather, the extended Christmas and New Year holiday has finally drawn to a close.

Some school bus services on minor roads are still affected (see details below), and pupils in such areas are being advised to walk to the nearest main road bus stop.

Parents who take their children to school are asked to drive with caution particularly in the school car parks where there may still be untreated areas.

Swimming sessions for primary school children today and tomorrow (Friday) have been cancelled, but it's hoped everything will be back to normal on Monday.

The buses operating today (Thursday) are:

Service 1 and 2: Normal service between Douglas, Castletown, Port Erin and Port St Mary, without the extensions to the Sound, Bradda and Derby Haven.

Service 3: Normal service between Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey.

Service 5A: This will operate from Douglas via Peel Road directly to Peel and on, via Kirk Michael, to Ramsey. The departure times will be those of the normal 5 and 6 services, as a result of which Noble's Hospital, Strang Road and the Hope will not be served.

Service 11S: This is a special service between Lord Street and Noble's Hospital, running at 10 minutes and 40 minutes past each hour.

Service 21S: Another special service, every 30 minutes from 6.45am, serving the normal route between Douglas and Farmhill, with the exception of Hazel and Heather Crescents in Pulrose.

Service 25S: A special service in the Douglas and Onchan area, operating from Lord Street via Bucks Road, Woodbourne Road, St Ninian's, Ballanard Road, Johnny Watterson's Lane, Hailwood Drive, Sign Post, Avondale Road, the Manx Arms, Royal Avenue, Douglas Promenade and Lord Street. It will operate at 6.00am, 6.30am, 7.00am and every 15 minutes thereafter.

Service 26S: A special service operating in the opposite direction from the 25S. Its times are 6.15am, 6.45am, 7.15am and every 15 minutes thereafter.

A further announcement on buses is due to be made at 10.00am today as Bus Vannin seeks to restore more services to the estates as the weather improves.

All school bus services today (Thursday) are operating normally with the following exceptions:

Service 4: This will be reviewed at 7am, but is expected to run, subject to a route inspection.

Service 7: Cancelled.

Service 9A: Ballaughton Manor Hill and Ballabrooie will not be served.

Service 9C: Ballabrooie will not be served.

Service 10: Cronk-y-Voddy will not be served.

Service 17B: Lhen and Kiondrogohad Road will not be served.

Service 20A: Smeale and the Point of Ayre will not be served.

Service 29: Cancelled.

Service 32A, 33 and 33A: Hazel and Heather Crescents in Pulrose will not be served.

Service 38 and 42: Lakeside and Ballachrink will not be served.

Service 39 and 40: Birch Hill will not be served.

Service 44: This route will be reviewed at 7am, but is expected to operate subject to a route inspection.

Service 45: Abbeylands, Baldwin and Mount Rule will not be served.

Service 52: Ballaughton Manor Hill will not be served.

Service 63: Braddan will not be served.

Service 64: Cancelled.

Service 66: Braaid and St Mark's will not be served.

All main hospital services are are running normally, although the Cardio Respiratory Clinic at Ramsey Cottage Hospital has been cancelled today.

Minor oral surgery should be back to normal, but patients are asked to contact the hospital, on 811811 from 8.30am, to check their appointments are going ahead, before setting out on their journeys.

Roads on higher ground which were due to reopen last night remained closed due to the continuing trecherous conditions, although Minorca Hill in Laxey, from Ramsey Road to Glen Road, and Albert Street in Douglas, from Bucks Road to Mount Havelock, were back in full use.

Old Laxey Hill, from New Road to Glen Road, and the Sloc Road, from Ballakillowey to Ballamodha, which were expected to reopen, will be reassessed at 6.20 this evening, when the Lhergy Cripperty Road, from Cronk Road to the St Mark's Road, is expected to reopen.

No decision has been taken on when the Mountain Road, from Cronk ny Mona to Ramsey Hairpin, will be back in use.

Several other roads are not due to re-open until tomorrow (Friday).

They are the A14 Tholt-e-Will Road, from Tholt-e-Will Cottage to the Mountain Road; the Druidale Road from Brandywell Cottage to Ballaugh Glen Road; the Injebreck Road, from Brandywell Cottage to Ard Whallin; and the Brandywell Road, from Brandywell Cottage to the Mountain Road.

Refuse collections have resumed in Onchan and Braddan.

In Onchan, homes on all main roads that are accessible are having their rubbish collected this morning.

In Braddan, extra large waste bins have been placed at locations through the village to help residents whose own bins are becoming full.

Cancellations due to the weather:

Community Health has called off the Family Planning Clinic scheduled for this evening, although tomorrow's session is due to go ahead.

The Chair Based Exercise sessions in Onchan and Port Erin, scheduled for today and tomorrow, have also been also cancelled.

The meeting of the Manx Stroke Foundation this evening has been called off.