Gritters have been out in force across the county after temperatures plummeted to below freezing.

The Cumbria County Council team were called into action, treating priority routes to prevent accidents.

Bonfire night was one of the coldest nights of the season so far, prompting gritters to treat 30 Cumbrian roads. Routes in the Alston and Brampton areas were also gritted.

The council says it is well prepared for the winter, with 24,000 tonnes of salt stockpiled and a 33-strong fleet of gritters ready to roll.

It also has £3.7m set aside to fund the highways winter maintenance service, routinely treating around 2,400 km of highway, covering about one third of the whole network

Road temperatures and weather forecasts will be closely monitored to determine where gritters are likely to be needed.

Keith Little, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The council is well prepared for the coming winter and we will be keeping a close eye on weather and road conditions on a daily basis over the coming months. Our gritting teams are ready to treat key roads day and night in Cumbria to help keep drivers safe during adverse weather.”

Most main roads should be treated in less than three hours during freezing conditions, while lower priority routes should be treated within a five hour window.