Despite being labelled a complete lunatic by some, 13-year-old Paul Quinn from Ardboe has been almost universally praised after facing down temperatures of less than five degrees celsius and walking 600 yards to school wearing a duffel coat and a scarf over his face.

Quinn, who had already missed three days of vital education when the school closed it doors because of wind, snow and then ice over the last month, was determined not to let another day go to waste despite the mildly cold temperature today.

His mother and teacher in the school, Mrs Mary Quinn, could only admire her son’s fortitude:

“He’s strong-willed. I didn’t go in myself. It’s hard enough teaching at the best of times, ideally 15 degrees, without fighting 4 degrees in the walk from the car park to the school. Paul’s a modern-day hero so he is.”

Unfortunately, Paul had to turn around and walk back after only one teacher turned up and one of the catering staff. Quinn also was given a 3-day detention for muttering ‘for f**k sake’ after being told the school had to close its doors again.

Meanwhile, schools in Tyrone are set to make decisions in the morning over their ability to open their premises after Frank Mitchell on UTV hinted that winds may reach 30mph in some exposed areas.