RESIDENTS in Worcestershire are being urged not to panic about the Arctic weather conditions set to hit the county tomorrow.

The plea comes after Evening News weatherman Paul Damari was inundated with calls from anxious residents fearing the forecast snow and cold conditions could spark major problems.

The elderly are being warned to wrap up warm and make sure their houses are heated as temperatures - relatively mild for January until now - drop to minus 5C tomorrow.

But the region is expected to escape the worst of the weather forecasted for Scotland, north east England and East Anglia.

"It'll probably be the most severe weather we've had for a few years," said Mr Damari, who received more than 150 calls over the weekend. "It catches people out because they're not used to it.

"Coupled with a severe wind chill and ice, people just need to take care."

Most of the area could see up to two inches of snow with day temperatures around zero and just below during the night.

"It means that, if we do get any snow, it'll give some ground coverage."

Twenty-seven people died in Worcester during the winter of 2001 and Val Stokes, Age Concern Worcester's chief officer, said Fight The Freeze leaflets with advice on keeping warm were available from its Mealcheapen Street office for those concerned.

Meanwhile, gritting lorries are preparing to treat county roads and city supermarkets have seen big rises in sales of winter-related products.

Colin Chance, manager of Sainsbury's in Cathedral Plaza, Worcester, said sales of salt were up 20 per cent up last week, sales of de-icer had risen by 62 per cent and soup sales had gone up by 45 per cent.

Worcestershire County Council spokesman Lee Shrimpton said 22 gritters were on standby to cover the county's 25 primary routes, as well as several secondary roads.

The main gritting routes in and around Worcester include the M5, A44, B4482, A38, A449, A4440, A4538, A4103 and B4424.

Drivers were being asked to take care.

Full details of the county's winter gritting routes are available at www.worcestershire.gov.uk under Winter Road Maintenance.