ARE you dreaming of a white Christmas?

We decided to take a look back at the heavy snow fall in Somerset in 2013.

Tragedy and chaos in Somerset

DOZENS of schools were shut and roads were closed as heavy snow caused chaos in Somerset.

The worst problems came on Tuesday evening when a second batch of snow fell onto already-wet roads, forcing dozens of drivers to abandon their vehicles as conditions worsened.

In West Somerset on Saturday, 57- year-old postman John Bircham died after suffering a suspected heart attack as he tried to dig out his delivery van.

The dad-of-two’s son Wayne, said his father, who had worked at Royal Mail’s Dulverton delivery office for 25 years, was an “amazing man.”

With many schools forced to close or send pupils home early on both Friday and Tuesday, a fierce debate has broken out about whether head teachers are too quick to shut.

In an on-line poll at somersetcountygazette.co.uk, 60% of readers felt that schools close too easily, while 40% said bosses are right to think safety first.

A county council spokesman said: “Head teachers and governing bodies are responsible for the day-to-day management of their schools. Each head teacher is best placed to determine whether their school can operate.

"Head teachers are fully aware of the need to try and open their schools as they understand how frustrating it is for parents to find child care at short notice.”