Thousands of tons of salt have been stockpiled to keep traffic moving on Kent's roads this winter.

Staff at depots on the Henwood Industrial Estate, Ashford, and at Stanford, near Hythe, are ready to swing into action when icy conditions strike.

Kent County Council has more than 20,000 tonnes of salt at eight depots and a fleet of more than 60 salting lorries.

Cllr Bryan Sweetland, cabinet member for highways, said: "The past two years have seen some of the harshest winter weather for three decades and we are well prepared for similar weather this year."

KCC salts about a third of the county's A and B roads and around 15% of other important parts of the network. It treats about half of the entire 5,000 mile road network.

Smaller vehicles can help clear roads not on main salting routes when an area is particularly badly hit.

Spencer Palmer, KCC's head of highway operations, said in addition to the salting lorries, 180 farmers have been provided with snow ploughs to keep key rural roads open.

In severe weather, crews will work round the clock.

Visit KCC's website for details of salting routes and other information about the council's winter service.