NOTTS has enough grit stockpiled to see it through the next two and a half days, emergency planners said today.

While parts of the country have struggled to obtain rock salt for roads, and the AA warned that a shortage in some areas may risk lives, Notts has been well supplied.

The secret is good planning, according to Chris Keane, highways manager at Nottingham City Council.

He said the deliveries of grit the city and county are now receiving are two and half weeks overdue.

"We have put pressure on to get existing orders delivered," he said.

"We expected this winter would be worse and we have been working hard to keep our storage barn filled."

If other councils are placing orders now they may have a ,long wait for grit.

In addition, the city and county has good stocks of grit, which they share.

Five years ago, specialist storage barns were installed. They were expensive but they are designed to store salt and keep it dry, enabling larger quantities to be stockpiled.

Wet grit sticks together and more has to be used when it is spread ion the roads because it can come out in clumps.

Those decisions are paying dividends now.

Nine delivers of about 300 tonnes of grit were received at Eastcroft depot today, with more than 10 expected tomorrow.

However, freezing temperatures will continue to put stocks under pressure and if heavy snow falls again the demand will increase significantly.