GRITTERS are sticking to their regular salting patterns as Bury braced itself for Arctic weather conditions.

Temperatures as low as minus four are expected on Thursday, with strong winds and wintry showers predicted over the next few days.

But Bury Council said it expected no more snow than for an average cold snap, and that it would respond as necessary to worsening conditions.

The authority's six gritting vehicles were deployed on Monday night, each spreading six tonnes of grit on to the borough's major roads and bus routes.

A spokesman said: "There is no indication that there is going to be heavy snowfall.

"The information we have from the Met Office is that it is not going to be any more drastic than any ordinary, frosty night.

"If that changes then we will alter things accordingly."

Snow ploughs and gritters belonging to the Highways Agency are on standby, with trunk roads and motorways pre-salted.

Drivers are reminded to check on the weather conditions and consider delaying journeys where it appears necessary.