Walsall gritting routes tested for winter
Gritting routes in part of the West Midlands have been test driven ahead of the winter.
Drivers have been checking equipment and going on roads in the Walsall area as part of Operation Snowfall involving the council.
More than 3,500 tonnes of grit, in a newly-built barn, has been stockpiled at a depot in Brownhills.
The council went out 41 times last year and spread more than 2,000 tonnes of grit, it said.
More than 160 grit bins were being replenished ahead of this winter.
The authority added it was set to continue using Twitter and Facebook to keep people informed "when gritters are sent out as well as for other weather-related updates such as closures to services, schools or disruption to bin collections".
Saturday's initiative also involved council partners Tarmac.