There's still plenty of winter left so take care on Worcestershire's roads when freezing conditions bite

Motorists are being urged to take care on the roads with winter temperatures expected to bite this week following a milder season to date.

Worcestershire County Council's gritting teams will be rolling out as usual to treat highways when needed but drivers should never assume just because sections might have been treated it's safe to travel at normal speeds.

The authority has 31 vehicles, which cover around 800 miles worth of designated precautionary routes (primary and secondary) during a typical night's work around the county. There are also 1,233 grit bins placed in Worcestershire.

Finding out more about the gritting operations has never been easier thanks to improvements to the dedicated section on the County Council's website www.worcestershire.gov.uk/gritting

The site allows visitors to use interactive maps to follow the designated routes, pinpoint their nearest grit bin and report any problems the winter's harsh weather may bring via the web. It also contains guidance on clearing snow/ice from outside homes which, despite rumours, poses no legal threat to householders.

For the third year in a row 'Gritter Twitter' has made a return to keep followers updated with up-to-the-minute news on safety and what the teams will be doing when freezing weather hits.

To follow Worcestershire County Council on Twitter simply visit www.twitter.com/worcscc. As well as regular 'Gritter Twitter' tweets anyone following will receive information on other services the authority offers that may be of interest to them.

Cllr John Smith OBE, County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "This winter has been very mild, especially when you compare it to the last few years, but forecasts are predicting it to turn a lot colder over the next few days.

"The teams will be out and about treating roads as usual but motorists are being urged not to be complacent. Those behind the wheel should always temper their driving according to conditions and never assume that just because a road has been gritted it's safe to travel at normal speeds."