GRITTING teams are hard at work during the winter, ensuring the county’s road network is safe to drive on.

Jon Fraser, from Worcestershire County Council’s Highways, said: We have 12 surface sensors embedded on the roads and the decision to treat (is made) on road surface temperature, not ambient air temperature - the figure used on a television weather report.

“We have information provided to us by the Met Office as well as an expert to consult with but, if it’s a marginal night, we have a team on standby who are ready to go and we will place a spotter on the Malvern Hills to keep their eye on the changing conditions.

“Salt rock is mixed with brine, preventing it from bouncing off from where we want it to stay.”

READ MORE: Extinction Rebellion stage climate change protest in Malvern

READ MORE: ‘Clean up when your dog’s fouled' - says cllr Daniel Walton

Driver Andy James takes around three hours to complete his 80 mile stretch of assigned roads and he is part of a fleet who grit primary and secondary routes in the county.

Mr James said: “The majority of car drivers are patient when we are spreading but some are not.

“I’ve had people honk their horn at me but they don’t realise it’s safer behind as the road in front has not been gritted yet.

“We record everything on the road with a front and rear dash cam.

“We use equipment to control grit rate and speed and it even logs where we’ve been on the route and what time - good if someone calls up and says their road hasn’t been gritted.

“I wish people out on unlit roads would wear a head torch and reflective clothing - they don’t realise how difficult they are to spot."