WEATHER forecasters warn this winter will be the coldest for years.

So are we to look forward to traffic chaos and snow and ice keeping us captive in our cars?

Not according to Kirklees Council, who are ready for the challenge of fighting off the effects of a severe winter.

Highways department spokesman Neil Stewart said: "The Department for Transport has issued a warning that forecasters are predicting particularly bad weather this winter.

"Kirklees Highways Service prides itself on providing one of the best winter services in the UK and, whilst the predicted bad weather will make this more challenging, we are prepared for the challenge."

An estimated one million people use the 1,180 miles of road in Kirklees every day.

The highways department treats 34 routes - 60% of roads - as priority and can systematically treat them with salt within two hours.

Each treatment of the priority routes uses 300 tonnes of rock salt at an average cost of £12,500.

Treatments average around 80 per year.

The Highways staff claim they are fully prepared for the winter ahead.

Mr Stewart said: "The Council has one of the highest percentages of total road network gritted as priority in the UK, at 60%, and the total of 1,100 grit bins kept full and maintained is twice as many as most authorities.

"A new salt barn in Honley keeps rock salt dry all year round, keeping it most effective.

"Technology is also helping keep Kirklees ahead of the game.

"Up-to-the-minute weather information is regularly sourced from the Met Office.

"In addition, a highly advanced thermo-check monitoring system featuring three weather stations at Grange Moor, Wessenden Moor and Dewsbury, as well as sensors within the road surface at key sites, is in operation.

"This gives an up-to-date detailed and electronically mapped picture of the conditions.

"Morrisons at Waterloo for example, is one of the coldest spots in Kirklees."

He said the system gave good warning of the conditions, so roads can be treated before snow and ice set in. Early warning is vital as salt can be ineffective on compacted snow and ice.

If dry rock salt is applied to a moist road surface before a freeze, it will form a solution and act as a highly effective de-icer.

However, just because the roads are gritted it does not necessarily mean there is no ice on the road. Drivers must remain careful.