GRITTING lorries will be out in force tonight and tomorrow in a bid to keep Hampshire's roads moving as further snow and freezing temperatures are forecast.

The county council says "significant and persistent" snow is expected from 9pm tonight.

Salting lorries will grit priority one routes - including"A" roads - which carry most traffic this evening and vehicles are likely to go out again overnight.

Community routes, including roads to all county-run schools, will be treated at 6am tomorrow in time for the school run.

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Smaller roads have been added to the council's gritting route after lessons were learned from severe winter weather last January and February when hundreds of schools closed.

The council says 2,000 tonnes of salt has been used in the past week with priority one routes gritted at least once each day.

Environment bosses say main roads were all clear this morning and icy main routes to villages have also been treated.

Officers say this salting will help prevent ice forming on the roads ahead of the predicted snow tonight.