GRITTERS and council crews will be working throughout the night in a bid to keep main roads open.

Worcestershire County Council is sending out gritters equipped with snow ploughs, with an overnight frost predicted to cause headaches for rush motorists in the morning.

More snow is expected across the county tonight.

Meanwhile, some schools have already announced they will remain closed tomorrow because of the bad weather.

County Hall stressed the decision on closing schools was made by individual headteachers, and parents should check local news bulletins first thing in the morning to see if their children are affected.

An up-to-date list is online here.

Councillor Marcus Hart, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Advice to parents is to tune in to the local radio, contact the school itself or visit the county council's website - www.worcestershire.gov.uk - where a list of those schools forced to close is being updated regularly.

"The decision to close a school is taken by the headteacher if they feel conditions are unsafe as the welfare of pupils and parents, who may have to pick their children up at the end of the day, has to be prioritised."

The county council’s day centres will remain closed tomorrow while many libraries may also shut.

Residents are also being asked to use caution when they are out and about and help the more vulnerable, especially the elderly.

Meanwhile, the county council has issued this travel advice for motorists: Maintenance checks - Before you set off on your journey, do you have:

• Anti-freeze in your cooling system?

• Screen wash additive in your windscreen washers?

• At least 1.6mm depth of tread and the correct air pressures in your tyres?

• Clean lenses on your headlights?

• Properly working heaters and demisters?

Planning your journey -Taking the following steps before you leave could prevent problems out on the roads:

• Ask yourself if your journey is necessary - if the answer is no, or not sure, then don’t go.

• Check the local weather forecast.

• Check the driving conditions on your route with your local radio station.

• Take extra equipment with you, eg. mobile phone, spade, towrope, torch, flask, warm and highly visible clothing and spare pieces of old carpet to place under your wheels for traction in case you get stuck in snow.

• Make sure someone at your destination is expecting you at a certain time.

Adjust your driving to the conditions:

• Use dipped headlights and drive more slowly than usual.

• Allow up to ten times your normal stopping distance.

• Keep your distance from vehicles ahead of you.

• To avoid skidding, brake very gently or ease off the accelerator early.

• If you do skid, angle your wheels into the kerb and use the extra grip on your tyre’s sidewall to slow the car down.

• If you have to abandon your vehicle try not to block the road; snow-ploughs, gritters and emergency vehicles may need to come past.

• Keep windscreens clean.

For more road and travel updates and information call the Worcestershire HUB Snowline on 01905 765765, open from 6.30am tomorrow.