Gritters are on standby as the country prepares for plummeting temperatures over the coming weeks.

East Sussex County Council's highways team has been preparing since the summer to ensure  roads will be kept clear of snow and ice once the cold weather arrives.

The winter gritting season runs from October 1 until the end of April and during this time the council’s gritter drivers are on standby 24 hours a day.

Over the winter months 21 gritters treat all A and B roads and some C roads, depending on the severity of the weather expected - a total of 42 per cent of roads across the county.

The vehicles and their drivers were put through their paces recently during Operation Snowdrop, the annual event which sees the gritters thoroughly checked and sent out on a trial run of the main gritting routes to test their readiness for wintery weather.

Around 10,000 tonnes of dry rock salt is available to the gritters from five depots across the county.

More than 20 farmers and contractors are also on call with snow ploughs to assist during periods of heavy snow fall.

Over the last few months 766 grit bins countywide have been inspected and filled for use on public roads and footpaths.