Gritter drivers are on standby due to cold weather

There is already 11,000 tonnes of salt in grit barns across the county - and more is due to be delivered in the coming weeks.

Gritter drivers are on standby every night at this time of year, ready to spread salt in areas where frost, ice or snow is expected to affect the roads.

The gritting team were out for the first time this season on the 3rd of November.

Councillor Ozzy O’Shea, the cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We are well-prepared to tackle the winter weather and will do all we can to minimise any potential disruption caused by snow, ice or frost. We monitor the weather constantly and if freezing temperatures are forecast, our fleet of gritters are ready to treat major roads and key routes, which make up around 47% of the county’s road network."

Last year the county council’s gritting lorries carried out 77 runs of its 17 routes, using over 12,000 tonnes of salt to help keep Leicestershire's roads safe.

In addition to the gritters, there are also snow wardens who grit paths in communities across the county and farmers who during deep snow, fit ploughs to their tractors and assist the council in clearing roads.