COUNCIL workers in Darlington have been battling 24 hours a day in a bid to beat the latest winter freeze.

The gritter lorries have been out on roads and pavements around the town in a bid to help drivers and pedestrians overcome the slippery conditions.

With temperatures dropping to minus eight in the past few days, the winter maintenance team of Darlington Borough Council has been out in force.

A council spokesman said: "Our team operates from October 1 to April 30 every year.

"They aim to maintain communications and enable everyday life to continue during adverse weather conditions. Weather forecasts are received every morning and every afternoon from the Met Office and a decision on whether to send out the gritters is then made.

"A final decision is made about where to send the gritters just before they go out, at 5am and 7pm, but in snowy conditions ploughing and salting take place when they are needed."

The council has nine gritting routes which take up to two hours to complete.