COUNCILS across the Journal area are implementing emergency plans to ensure essential services are maintained during the fuel crisis.

Worcestershire County Council has its snowline plan in operation which means schools can ring in with problems and possible closures will be circulated via the media. Day care centres and other facilities for the old and young are not affected and it will be business as usual for as long as possible. Staff have been told to cancel non-essential journeys and to car-share, cycle, walk or use public transport to work.

Gloucestershire County is encouraging staff to use email conferencing or work from home. Experts are warning people not to stockpile fuel for safety reasons. Fuel should be in appropriate containers away from houses.

Refuse collections contractor for the Vale, FOSCA, has enough fuel to collect until tomorrow (Friday) and then residents will have to store rubbish until service is back to normal. Extra bags will be supplied to households until the end of the week and bags will be available at council shops.

Main town centre bins will be emptied and street cleaning carried out by hand. Public toilets will be open as usual. County household waste sites closed on Tuesday night, although the Hill and Moor site at Throckmorton remained open.