GRITTER lorries will be taking to the streets of Southampton this evening as the cold snap continues.

Crews will be treating major routes across the city in a bid to prevent accidents being caused by the icy conditions that are expected to occur.

The city council tweeted: "Another chilly one forecast for tonight, so our gritters will be out treating priority routes from 5pm this evening.

"For information on gritting please visit https://southampton.gov.uk/travel-transport/roadworks/road-maintenance/gritting/ #GritterTwitter"

A statement on the city council's website adds: "Our aim is to make Southampton's roads as safe as possible in bad weather by gritting roads and providing grit bins.

"From 1 November to the end of March we provide the winter maintenance service for the city and this includes the following activities:

"Pre-salting to help prevent ice forming.

"Post-salting to melt ice and snow that has already formed.

"We cannot grit all the roads in the city. Priority gritting routes have been established.

"Priority one routes receive routine pre-salting, in advance of any forecast of frost, ice or snow.

"Priority two routes are treated only where there is prolonged and persistent frost or ice, which is expected to continue, or following snow.

"We monitor daily weather forecasts and road conditions to enable us to decide when precautionary salting or other treatment is required and can react quickly to extreme weather conditions."

The city council treats pavements as well as roads.

"Where possible we will prioritise the gritting and clearance of main access footway routes and those with heavy pedestrian movement in times of prolonged severe weather. There is no guarantee that these routes will be kept clear of slippery conditions.

"Over 300 grit bins are strategically located throughout the city solely for the use on public roads and footways and should not be removed for private use."