SEDGEMOOR District Council is on alert following a warning from the Met Office that heavy snow is expected tonight (January 17).

The council’s Clean Surrounding’s team will suspend street cleansing from 6am Friday morning and turn their hands to shovelling snow.

The district council, Bridgwater Town Council and Burnham Town council purchased cold weather kits in 2011. The large yellow grit spreaders sit on the back of existing clean surroundings trucks - converting them to medium sized gritting vehicles. One is based in Bridgwater, the other in Burnham.

An SDC spokesman said: “The vehicles are already loaded, and ready to go in the morning.

“The strategy, as always, is to treat the town centres of Bridgwater, Burnham and Highbridge and then work outwards. Public car parks, and other shopping precincts will be considered next.

“All other manual staff will be directed to town centres with shovels and grit with instructions to clear snow, and apply grit to paved areas.

“Supervisors will continue to monitor throughout the day. County Highways have supplied us with salt.”

Somerset Waste Partnership is also ready with the severe weather plans.