GRITTERS are due out for the first time this winter tonight with temperatures set to dip below freezing in certain areas.

The gritters will be leaving the Lydiate Ash depot, near Bromsgrove, at around 6pm today to treat sections of the A448 and A453 (between Bromsgrove and Redditch) with the rest of the fleet on standby to head out if needed. Conditions will be monitored through the night.

Temperatures are expected to drop close to freezing at times overnight, especially on more rural routes.

Drivers, who last season (2012/13) clocked up 62,149 miles covering roads in Worcestershire – the equivalent of travelling around the world across the equator two-and-a-half times – have been on standby since mid-October. Around 13,000 tonnes of salt is currently in stock. As was the case last year the authority's gritting fleet is fitted with technology, pioneered in Europe, which uses brine solution on salt before it's placed on roads. This helps it to work quicker and cuts out the potential for waste as it helps more grit stay on roads rather than it bouncing off.

The @worcscc account will jump into 'Gritter Twitter' mode account for the fifth year running. Motorists are being urged to drive with caution and never assume it's safe to travel at normal speeds even if they believe highways have been treated with grit.

Coun John Smith, county council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The message for drivers doesn’t change but it's just as important as ever. Take care when temperatures dip. Grit has never been, or never will be a miracle cure. Don't assume that it's safe to travel at normal speeds when temperatures dip, even if you think roads may have been treated."

Anyone looking to find out more can do so via worcestershire.gov.uk/gritting. The dedicated section 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.