North Yorkshire highways chiefs say the authority is ready for winter’s worst weather.

The council, which has more than 50,000 tonnes of salt stockpiled, said its main priority during extreme weather would be to keep major routes treated and passable.

In recent years the authority has invested in renewing seven trailer gritters and buying 28 new snow ploughs.

It now has a fleet of 93 gritters and five snow blowers and can call on the services of more than 120 snow plough contractors when conditions become severe.

Also, its new highways contractor - Ringway - has begun renewing and improving the fleet further.

County Councillor Gareth Dadd, executive member for highways, said: “North Yorkshire’s highways network is vast and keeping it open and on the move throughout the worst of the winter weather is a complex and expensive operation.

“Nevertheless, winter maintenance is a top priority for the county council and once again we are well prepared for snow and icy conditions.”

More details of the gritting operations and routes, plus real-time weather information, can be found here.