With another big freeze expected this winter, highways teams are working their way round Surrey to fill more than 1,700 grit bins.

The Met Office forecast snow in some parts of the country this week following Exacta Weather's prediction last week of heavy snowfall across most parts of the UK this winter and temperatures as low as minus 20C.

Surrey County Council is making sure its 1,743 grit bins are stocked up so local people will be able to treat roads and pavements in their communities.

Ian Lake, Surrey County Council's Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, said: "With another big freeze being forecast, we're making sure that our grit bins are filled up before winter starts.

"Our teams are working their way around the county so residents can play their part in keeping Surrey moving.

"If they use this grit to treat their local roads and pavements it will be a huge benefit to their communities, but we would urge them only to use as much grit from the bins as is necessary so as many people as possible can benefit from it."

The grit bin filling operation is part of a range of measures to tackle any ice and snow this winter.

These include gritting around 110 extra miles of road regularly in severe weather, with more hills covered, and increasing the amount of salt ordered to 16,800 tonnes from last winter's 13,000, which was 50% more than the previous year.

Other measures taken include enlisting the help of an extra 15 farmers with ploughs to clear snow to take the total to 50 across Surrey and doubling the amount of grit offered to borough and district councils to spread in town centres to 40 tonnes.