BOURNEMOUTH'S gritting team has been working flat out to keep the borough's main roads clear.

When it became clear on Wednesday evening that the snow that had blighted much of the UK was finally heading for Dorset, the council's army of gritters took to the roads for what would become a long night and day.

I joined driver Peter Field yesterday morning on the continual gritting operation that was already more than 12 hours old - between 9pm Wednesday and yesterday lunchtime, more than 350 miles of roads had been treated.

It was due to carry on throughout last night and into today and was being repeated in Poole and around Dorset.

Teams were also sent out to salt pavements and pedestrian areas.

"When it's really bad and icy, people are in too much of a rush to get somewhere and that's what causes the accidents. I can't remember it being like this in a long time," said Peter.

The council uses hi-tech equipment to keep a close eye on the weather and Paul Hastings, highways operations manager, said that staff were working around the clock.

"We get weather reports by 1pm each lunchtime. It's web-based and gets information from the Met Office and there are sensors on strategic roads," said Paul.

At the council's depot in Southcote Road, gritters were continuously arriving to be loaded with grit before getting back out on the road again.

More than 400 tonnes of salt had been used by yesterday afternoon, with more than 800 in stock and more on order.

Both Paul and Peter asked drivers to take care and help the gritters out.

Paul said: "Drivers try to overtake and rush hour is a bit of a problem. If they can be careful it helps."

Talking to Mr Field in his cab, it was clear that everything possible is being done to keep people on the move.

He said that it was impossible to reach all the side roads, and the priority had to be to keep the main routes clear.

"People sometimes wave at me as if ask me to come and do their road, but we have to stick to the main routes. We do get requests for certain places and we do as many as we can," said Peter.

The big worry this morning will be ice, with compacted snow from yesterday causing problems. Drivers are again being urged to only take to the roads if necessary.