Council bosses say they won’t slip up again after being left without enough salt to grit frozen roads.

In February West Sussex County Council (WSCC) were forced to buy extra salt from Germany after they were caught short by heavy snow.

Gritters across the rest of the county were also criticised for relying on piecemeal deliveries of salt to keep main highways clear.

But as the Met Office predicts plunging temperatures of -4C and light snow showers for the rest of the week, councils in Sussex insist they are as prepared as they can be for the cold snap.

A spokesman for WSCC said more salt has been stockpiled than in previous years and pledged to order more when stocks hit 50%.

He said: “We have enough for 40 continuous days. We have 13,000 tons stockpiled across the county.

“We are as well equipped as we possibly can be. If supplies do ever run short we will make emergency plans.”

Yesterday, the AA said half of the UK's local authorities only have enough road salt for six days of continuous freezing.

The Met Office said Sussex will be hit by cold weather this week but temperatures are around average.