GRITTERS are geared up to work around the clock to keep the county's roads clear of snow and ice this winter.

Lancashire County Council’s highways team will lay 1,800 miles of road with salt and grit as winter starts to tighten its grip.

A total of 29,000 tonnes of salt are stocked by the team who deploy 45 gritters from seven operational depots across the county.

Some 1,800 grit bins are also dotted around the county in key locations such as on steep bends and in villages where they are most needed.

The team’s fleet of gritters and snow ploughs will work hard across the East Lancashire boroughs of Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

While Blackburn with Darwen council gritters will also work to keep the borough’s roads safe of snow and ice this winter.

County councillor Keith Iddon, cabinet member for highways and transport, said “We’re well prepared for whatever the weather might have in store for us this winter with plenty of grit in stock and our gritting crews on standby for whenever they’re needed.

“We’ve now seen the first of the winter weather and have been busy across the county in recent days.

“Our primary aim is to always keep the main routes moving to ensure people and goods can get where they need to go, and in severe conditions we can call on extra resources including agricultural contractors to plough the more rural roads and to try to keep access open to more remote areas.

“Experience of recent severe winters, and improving technology, means we’re always refining the way we grit the roads. “

Highways England is responsible for gritting the M6, M55, M58, M61 and M65 to Junction 10, the A56 between the M66 and M65 and the A585 between the M55 and Fleetwood.

Last winter saw a total of 16,497 tonnes of salt used by the council to treat ice on the highways across Lancashire.