AFTER days of warnings, Worcestershire is prepared for the predicted blizzards, ice and snow.

But according to Worcester News weatherman Paul Damari all we need to worry about are cold winds.

He said: "We've had a really busy week with the Met Office saying we should expect snow blizzards on Friday.

"The warnings have been downgraded and I feel what they said was an over-reaction. It will get colder and with wind chills it will feel about minus 10."

If this winter does see snow coming to the county there are 24 gritters ready to make the roads safe. And if conditions get very bad, local farmers are willing to turn their tractors into to snow ploughs.

Worcestershire County Council's winter maintenance service is working closely with the Met Office to ensure adverse weather conditions do not cause havoc.

Julian Browne, winter maintenance supervisor, said if snow is forecast, the gritters will go out and lay down Safecote, a mix of rock salt and molasses, on about a third of the county's roads.

He said: "If the snow drifts continue we then call on farmers and contractors to clear the smaller roads. We set them an area and they use JCBs or turn their tractors into snowploughs. In return we give them an annual tender."

Maps and more information about these precautionary gritting routes are available from www.worcestershire.

whub.org.uk.

A spokesman for National Rail said it was also prepared for any snow heading towards Worcestershire.

He said: "A common problem in very cold weather is stop points and junctions on the tracks freezing over.

"We are keeping an eye on where we've had problems in the past.

"We have de-icing equipment, such as de-icing spray, point heaters and snow ploughs if they are necessary. We will try to keep the trains running."

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