Giant snowballs cause road blocks

Highways officials were called to remove the giant snowball Birmingham school closures Black Country school closures

Gritting teams in the Black Country were called away from the main routes to clear road blocks made out of giant snowballs by pranksters.

Walsall Council sent officials to Barry Road, in Park Hall, and Rookery Lane, in Aldridge, on Thursday.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, deputy leader of Walsall Council, said the blockages were caused by "irresponsible yobs".

He said they had put extra pressure on the council's resources and could have blocked ambulances.

A council JCB was being sent to break up the snowballs - some of which were more than 5ft (1.5m) tall - on Thursday afternoon.

Two snowballs - one much bigger than the other - were found in Barry Lane.

The snowman's "head" was found a short distance away

It is believed one was the head and the other the body of a giant snowman.

Mr Andrew, said: "All councils across the country are under a lot of pressure and these added incidents don't help at all.

"What these yobs who have done this don't understand, is that it could be their parents or grandparents who are caught up in the traffic caused by these hazards or even an ambulance that can't get through to take someone to hospital.

"Because of the actions of these irresponsible yobs we have had to send out teams to remove these obstacles and these hazards and take teams off the gritting run."