SALT supplies are being carefully managed by Essex County Council, to ensure they stay ahead of the ice.

The county’s 65 gritters were on standby overnight to treat Essex’s major routes.

Norman Hume, cabinet member for Highways and Transportation with Essex County Council, said: “We are seeing an improvement in the weather this week, but while icy conditions remain we will continue to do everything we can to keep Essex moving.

“We started this winter from our strongest ever position in terms of readiness for these severe conditions with the highest ever levels of winter salt in stock. Our gritters and crews have been out night and day for four weeks treating 1800 miles of Essex’s primary network plus hundreds more miles of high footfall areas.

“We have been receiving fresh supplies of salt and will continue to take operational decisions to maximise the benefits of winter gritting on our roads and footpaths for our residents. I would like to ask residents to continue to travel with extreme caution at this time.”

Essex County Council is constantly monitoring weather forecasts and supplies of salt, with further operational decisions being taken on a daily basis.