County road chiefs are confident they have enough gritting salt to ensure roads are kept clear during the cold snap.

Kent County Council says it has enough stored to last the rest of the week and insists there is no question of any immediate shortage.

With forecasters predicting no let-up in the poor weather, some authorities are warning their supplies are running out, with some saying they have only enough for a few more days.

But KCC says its supplies are holding up after ordering 20,000 tonnes before Christmas. Despite its fleet of 64 gritting lorries making more runs than normal, the council says they will be able to keep doing so as along as the bad weather lasts.

KCC spokesman Phil Scrivener said: "Kent has more than enough to last the week. We ordered 20,000 tonnes before Christmas to add to our stock and will not run out."

The intensive gritting operation is coming with a price tag however. Each run costs the county council about £14,000 and the spell of snow has cost about the taxpayer £112,000 just since Sunday.

Since the cold snap began, the council has sent out its fleet eight times on to the main road network, focusing on A and B roads, main commuter routes and danger spots. Its gritting operation also ensures that hospitals, fire stations and and other important facilities are kept open.

But, according to weather forecasters the gritters won't be dusted off any time soon.

John Hammond from the Met Office said: "There will be some rain this evening and tonight to wash away the snow. Tomorrow will be a wet and cold day with temperatures up to five degrees C at best. Friday will bring more wet weather with a possibility of some sleet and snow too as it moves eastwards."

The weekend is set to start fine, with plenty of bright weather, but there will be a potential risk of icy roads as temperatures hit as low as minus four or five in parts of West Kent. The temperatures will stay low during the day at around three or four degrees C. On Sunday, temperatures will be a degree or so higher but increasing cloud will bring more rain, sleet and possibly some snow.