Councils already digging in for winter on Shropshire's roads
We are still enjoying the dying echoes of the summer sun, but for the people responsible for looking after our roads, thoughts have already turned to winter.
And it is probably a good job because, if forecasters are right, Britain is braced for a long, snowy winter due to the strongest El Nino effect for 65 years.
The gritting of roads is a vital part of keeping the county's transport system working – and both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin councils say they are ready for the challenge.
Tim Sneddon, Shropshire Council's environmental maintenance manager, said that the council has 22,000 tonnes of salt in stock.
He said: "There are 25 frontline gritters, owned by Shropshire Council, assigned to salting routes and five spares, one in each depot.
"Ringway supply the drivers and they have over 60 trained and available."
Simon Jones, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "All our salt barns are fully restocked for the winter.
"We have an additional 5,000 tonnes of salt stock at strategic locations around the county, the gritters have all been serviced over the summer months, and we will be all ready to go from Thursday."
The council prioritises the clearance of the 'defined network', which covers around 28 per cent of the total road network in Shropshire.
Telford & Wrekin Council is also ready to combat the ice and snow, with 1,500 tonnes of salt stocks in slat barns, nine gritting lorries and at least 12 drivers.
Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member for neighbourhood and customer services, said: "Our local residents rely on the gritting service we provide and we're continuing to try to find ways to make this more effective and more efficient each year."
If anyone would like to help their neighbourhood and become a snow warden, they can do so by using the Everyday Telford App, signing up online at http://www.telford.gov.uk/snowwardens or by calling (01952) 384384.
