You might think the weather is unseasonably warm and there is not a frost in sight - but when it comes to the British weather it is best to be pro-active.

Which is why Gloucestershire County Council is already sending out its fleet of 29 gritters onto the highways and byways of the county.

They are not hunting for snow, and motorists and anyone planning an Indian summer barbecue can relax. The call to action a practice run as teams ready and test themselves and their equipment ahead of winter.

Apparently last year, the county council's gritting teams completed more than 90 gritting runs dealing with the four snow events including the so-called 'Beast from the East'.

As for its ammunition of choice - salt - more than 11,000 tonnes of it are now stored in covered domes in Stroudwater, Cannop, Moreton and Cirencester.

Bagged salt is also due to be delivered to parishes to replenish the community stock, and the county's 4,826 grit bins will be refilled before the end of the month.

Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways said "We're preparing our highways teams for when the cold weather really hits. When our gritters head out for real they will be spreading salt over 1,000 miles of the county's roads.

"Our road crews are the first line of defence in winter weather; they put in a tremendous effort - battling against the elements around the clock to keep the county moving."