A massive 174 tonnes of salt grit was poured on the borough's roads overnight on Monday (December 20) as winter bit hard in Bury for the first time this year.

Unlike some drivers who were caught out by the cold after two successive mild winters, Bury Council avoided complacency and had eight gritters out on the roads instead of the normal six.

Council workers carried out pre-gritting work between 6.30pm and 10pm before returning to their depot to fit snow ploughs.

A road inspection then took place between 12.30am and 1.30am on high level roads in the borough.

A council spokesperson said: "The crews were back in work on Tuesday morning, even after being up all night. It can be really hard work at this time of year, an around-the-clock job."

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