EMERGENCY highways crews are in place to tackle the winter ahead.

Sixteen thousand tonnes of salt is stocked and 60 salting lorries are ready, in preparation for the wintry weather.

Hampshire County Council has enough salt for 15 days of continuous salting, which is enough for around 75,000 miles of roads.

Around 3,000 community salt bins in the county are being topped up so residents can help themselves to keep pavements and smaller roads clear from ice and snow.

And 120 farmers and other contractors are on stand-by with snow ploughs.

The council will treat roads on a priority basis, with the busiest roads treated first, along with major bus routes, roads to major emergency services and large schools.

These roads are routinely treated when the road surface temperature is forecast to drop below nought degrees Celsius, or ice or frost is predicted.

Priority two routes, such as B roads and single access roads to villages, are treated following several days of prolonged severe weather.

For live updates on when and where road salting is taking place, follow the council’s Twitter feed @hantsconnect.

Councillor Sean Woodward, executive member for economy, transport and environment, said: “After the harsh conditions of the last three years we are ready to face the oncoming winter months. We are committed to making sure, as far as possible, that people can access health services; get to work, school and the shops during freezing temperatures.

“However, we all have a part to play in keeping Hampshire’s roads moving, and I would ask people to always consider if their journey is essential during bad weather, to drive according to the conditions and to remember that even if a road surface looks black it does not mean it is free of ice.”

Stephen Munro, Amey’s business director, said: “We have more than 30 new vehicles in our winter fleet this year, which is part of our commitment to invest in the best machinery and technology for Hampshire’s roads. Our winter planning started six months ago and staff are now on standby around the clock until next spring.”