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With more snow forecast, Suffolk County Council has warned it will only be salting and gritting its top priority roads from now on.

These are the A and B network, routes to main hospitals and fire stations and routes with more than 4,000 movements a day.

Salt supplies at the county are running low and its suppliers are having to prioritise.

Nearly three weeks of sub zero temperatures in Suffolk has put unprecedented pressure on the winter maintenance team, the council says.

Councillor Guy McGregor, portfolio holder for roads, transport and planning said: “Suffolk’s highway teams have been working day and night to grit the roads across the county.

"As everyone knows we have had an exceptional spell of severe weather and the highway teams have risen to the challenge and I take this opportunity expressing my sincere thanks to them all.

“Our suppliers of salt are also under pressure. Just as Suffolk County Council prioritises the roads our supplier is having to prioritise customers and supplies are now being diverted to local authorities in the north whose stocks are completely exhausted.

"With this in mind we need to make sure we use the salt we have in the most effective and efficient way. We have stocks of salt at present, but we need to be prudent to ensure that we are able to continue to grit the priority routes.

“From today (Wednesday) we will continue to salt our priority one routes, which includes A and B roads in the county and routes to main hospitals and fire stations and routes with more than 4,000 movements a day, but will not salt other roads.

"We want people to be aware of this change to our service, but I want to reassure everyone that we will continue to treat almost a third of the county’s roads (1,232 miles out of 4,272 miles of road in the county).

“We will continue to fill grit bins in the county on request from parish councils so local people can treat local trouble spots on minor roads, which otherwise would not be treated.

“We feel it is important that everyone has a clear expectation of which roads will be gritted and appreciates why we are taking these measures.

"I would also like to remind everyone who is out and about in the bad weather to take care. Salting and snow clearing cannot guarantee that a surface is ice free and road users should therefore take reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of themselves and others when freezing conditions occur.”

The council offers the following advice: Before setting out, listen to weather forecasts on the radio or television, and look for clues outside. For example, is there frost on the grass or on the car windscreen. Weather forecast information is also available on the Web. See the links to the Met Office and Meteo Group Weather Centre.

Allow extra time for your journey in wintry conditions.

Reduce your speed generally and slow down well in advance of bends and junctions. Allow more time to stop than usual.

Use a high gear and avoid harsh acceleration, hard braking or sudden steering movements.

Make sure you can see and be seen. Use dipped headlights in poor visibility but avoid unnecessary use of main beam headlights or rear fog lights which can cause dazzle and annoyance.

Use main routes as far as possible for your journey as these are most likely to have been salted.

If conditions are severe, consider if your journey is really necessary or whether it can be delayed. If you have to go out, dress warmly and be prepared in case you get stuck or delayed.

Powdery snow and strong winds are likely to lead to drifting and you should avoid travelling if possible.

Drive carefully as you are responsible for your own safety, your passengers’ safety, your vehicle and your effect on other road users.