County Council staff who showed true grit during the cold snap working round the clock to salt the county's roads were today due to be treated to tea and cakes with council chairman Shelagh Gurney.

County Council staff who showed true grit during the cold snap working round the clock to salt the county's roads were today due to be treated to tea and cakes with council chairman Shelagh Gurney.

Mrs Gurney said: “The freezing weather bought chaos and treacherous driving conditions across the county but the situation would have been a great deal worse had it not been for the commitment, dedication and professionalism of our gritting teams.”

The county council's gritting bill to date this winter is �3.7m.