THE Local Government Association is monitoring the gritting of Britain's roads on a day to day basis.

As a fresh belt of snow is expected across the country, local councils are said to be running low of supplies of the salt that helps keep our highways running during the adverse weather conditions. 

Paul Bettison, who chairs the LGA Environment Board, said: "In some parts of the country the prolonged exceptionally cold weather has meant that more grit has been deposited on roads in the last four days than in the whole of last year's winter.

"While supplies remain tight, councils, the LGA, Highways Agency and the Department for Transport are working together to make sure that the right amount of salt is delivered to the right places at the right time.

"To ensure that limited supplies are delivered to the places which need them most, government and local government will be studying where the shortages are most acute and where the weather will hit hardest.

On specific needs, Cllr Bettison said the LGA was aware of eight councils that had to prioritise their remaining salt stocks to focus on the most important roads.

"Council supplies of grit have been massively depleted after the cold snap and heavy snow that has hit much of the country.

"Where stocks are running low, councils will work with each other to make sure that everyone has access to enough salt to keep battling the icy and snowy conditions. If that fails to deal with any issue, then councils will talk to the Highways Agency to look for further supplies."