SURREY County Council’s fleet of gritting lorries have been out and about as January temperatures plunged below zero.

The gritters, featuring location trackers and salt spreading monitors, are hitting the road after filling up from the council’s 16,000-tonne stockpile of salt.

Thermal maps of all Surrey’s gritting routes show which roads are more at risk of icing up and 11 weather stations across the county offer updates on air and road temperature, rainfall and salt levels.

Last winter, Surrey’s gritters treated 67,000 miles of roads and the county council has filled 1,737 grit bins to help people treat roads and pavements in their communities and given districts and boroughs 40 tonnes of salt to spread in town centres.

It has also enlisted an army of 52 farmers equipped with ploughs and spreaders to tackle rural areas and the support of Surrey 4×4 Response to help out if there is heavy snow.

Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for highways John Furey said: “Last year our gritters drove the equivalent of travelling between London and Sydney and back three times and they’ll work around the clock again this winter to keep Surrey moving in ice and snow.

“But the reality is they can’t treat every road in Surrey.

“That is why we’re working with farmers and local councils while also asking residents to play their part in helping by spreading grit in their communities and looking out for elderly and vulnerable neighbours.”