As the nights grow darker and temperatures fall, Hertfordshire Highways has launched its winter campaign to keep the county's roads free from snow and frost.

After the last two winters brought discontent from motorists, who grumbled about the lack of gritting and questioned why some roads and not others would be cleared, the department has amended the routes its trucks will take.

Gritters began test runs across Hertfordshire this week following the start of the “winter season” on Friday, October 1.

And although priority will still be given to major A roads, B roads, an entrance and exit to each village and bus routes, more focus will now be placed on steep hills that often trap residents at home.

Speaking to the Watford Observer, Councillor Stuart Pile, executive member for highways and transport, said: “It's true to say the last two winters have been unusual. Last year was a one in 30 year event.

“What we have done [this year] is to listen to what the public is saying about the routes. We have changed quite a lot of routes but kept the distance the same 1,500 miles. Although the network hasn't increased, we have changed it to what people said.

“There are some particular routes that we grit now that we might not grit in the future. Some areas have been corrected, but really it's about what people said, in particular about gradient levels where there are a number of places or routes which weren't gritted and that lock people in certain places.”

Councillor Pile also moved to reassure motorists that the county isn't likely to run out of gritting salt as this winter begins to bite.

“Nationally, salt stocks are still a problem and are likely to be so until November,” he said. “We didn't run out last year but they [the county's salt stocks] became very low. We purchased different salt for different things.

“The worst season is from December 1 to the end of February. We should have full salt barns by then, unless anything serious happens before December.”

Twelve weather stations across the county, which measure air and surface temperature, help to provide 90-minute forecasts, which highways crews use to dictate their gritting timetable.

But the councillor, who represents Hatfield South, said salt was not a “magic powder that instantly makes travelling completely safe”, and warned motorists and pedestrians to be careful when driving or walking in freezing temperatures.

He added: "If we are hit by severe weather again this winter we hope residents will appreciate that, as we have done in previous years, we will be working around the clock on the massive task of keeping our main transport routes open and moving.”

For more information, visit www.hertsdirect.org/salting.

Winter facts: Herts Highways has 61 gritting vehicles They are sent out 40 times in an average winter. Last year they were despatched 78 times.

There are 58 gritting routes, each one taking two hours.

Gritters cover 42 per cent of Hertfordshire's roads.

There are 1,000 salt bins across the county, costing £40,000 to fill.

Herts Highways' winter budget is £3.5million.

Salt is bought at a cost of £30 per tonne.