GRITTERS will be back out on roads across Warrington this evening, Monday.

It comes amid a continued cold snap, with temperatures set to drop below freezing to as low as -2C as darkness falls.

Motorists are advised to take extra care on the roads and to allow more time for journeys.

A Warrington Borough Council spokesman said: “It is freezing today, with temperatures around -2C. There might be some light snow as well later on.

“Our gritters will on the roads this afternoon and this evening treating primary routes.

“Secondary routes will be gritted from 4pm once the primary routes are done.

“It is likely that the primary routes will be gritted again into the night with some light snow expected overnight and early morning.”

Primary routes are categorised as main roads, roads servicing hospitals, ambulance and fire stations, roads servicing high schools and bus routes with three or more buses per hour.

Meanwhile secondary gritting routes are roads servicing primary schools, industrial estates and St Rocco’s Hospice, as well as roads with less than three buses per hour

Primary routes are gritted when road surface temperatures are set to go below freezing and ice or frost has been forecast.

Gritters are sent out on secondary routes after periods of prolonged ice or snow, and only when primary routes are considered safe.

The M62, M56 and M6 motorways are the responsibility of the Highways Agency.

The gritting page on the council’s website states: “We spread grit when the Met Office forecasts frost or icy conditions, to try and stop ice from forming on the roads.

“We aim to have the grit lorries loaded within one hour.

“Due to our vast road network, it is not always possible to treat every road. Therefore, we prioritise roads and bus routes that form most of our primary gritting routes.

“We use a fleet of five gritting vehicles to grit the network in five pre-planned routes, spreading a total of 1,700 tonnes of salt during an average winter.

“It will typically take each vehicle three to four hours to complete their route.”