DUDLEY'S gritting team are hitting the roads this week as the borough experiences its first proper cold snap of the season.

The council’s gritting team is making preparations to help keep almost 300 miles of borough roads safe with temperatures expected to plunge to lows of just 1° later this week.

To highlight their work, Dudley Council has released a short video.

As the council prepares for winter, people who live and work in the borough are also being asked to play their part to help keep roads and pavements clear.

Information on how to help can be found online at dudley.gov.uk/snowbusters.

The ‘snow busters’ initiative gives groups and individuals free packs, including shovels, salt spreaders, high-visibility vests, special salt and advice on snow clearing, when they pledge to help in their local area.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, the council''s cabinet member for public realm, said: "Our team will be out there again this winter, gritting the roads and doing all we can to keep the borough moving during periods of snow and ice, but as always we are asking everyone to drive to the conditions when cold weather hits.

"Residents can keep up to date with any affected services by signing up to our snow updates and people who want to help out in their local community, by gritting side roads and pavements during snow, can collect one of our free ‘snow busters’ packs."

During periods of severe weather, people can keep up to date with the latest information at dudley.gov.uk/weatherwatch.