Resident and community groups can get free salt to grit their streets from Hertfordshire County Council, as we start to gear up for the winter.

We are also offering salt to schools for use on the highway, to help them stay open during icy weather, as well as to parish and town councils, who can use their local knowledge to identify exactly where best to use the salt during severe weather.

District and borough councils that help with clearing high priority pavements can apply for up to 30 tonnes of salt to assist with highway treatments at no cost.

Resident associations and community groups can apply for between one and 34, 20kg bags of salt, schools, parish and town councils can request 34 20kg bags or one tonne in a hippo-style grab bag.

Last year some 220 local groups took advantage of the offer, and we distributed nearly 100 tonnes of additional salt to local communities.

Phil Bibby, Executive Member for Highways and Transport at Hertfordshire County Council said: "It may seem quite early to be thinking about snow and ice, but it's important to plan ahead and be prepared. We've already ordered thousands of tonnes of salt for the county's main roads, but we will need to order more and, as in previous years, we're happy to order extra salt for organisations who want to help keep their local roads and pavements clear.

"Our gritters aren't able to get everywhere and it's important that we are able to maintain the working infrastructure across the county, so it's a real help when local groups are willing to do their bit too."

The salt will be provided for use on the public highway, not on private property, and we can only make one delivery of salt at the beginning of the winter.

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Apply online at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/applyforsalt before Monday 31 October.