Temperatures set to drop below freezing.

Gritters will be out across Devon tonight (Thursday) as temperatures drop below freezing.

Devon County Council is alerting road users to the potential of overnight frost.

The lowest road surface temperatures are expected in the north and north west of the county, at around -1 C, but most of the county will experience temperatures below zero.

Around 1,700 miles of the main salting network will be treated by gritters on Devon’s major roads from 11pm tonight.

Conditions will then be monitored in the morning as temperatures are anticipated to stay below zero during tomorrow’s rush hour and frost is possible.

Although the cold spell is forecast to last into the weekend, there is currently only a low risk of ice and daytime temperatures are expected to rise sharply so it is not currently anticipated that the snow wardens in over 240 of Devon’s towns and parishes will receive alerts.

Motorists are reminded of the following advice:

* Avoid overnight travel unless absolutely essential as roads will always be more hazardous at night with less traffic and colder temperatures;

* Never assume a road has been salted. Remember that showers or rain will wash salt off roads leaving them prone to ice, and in extreme cold even salting will not stop ice from forming;

* Allow additional time for your journey and reduce your speed;

* Drive with care and according to the conditions;

* If you have vulnerable or elderly neighbours, think about how they could possibly be helped through the cold spell;

* Listen to local radio for updates on current weather conditions.