THE Met Office has predicted more freezing temperatures tonight together with more fog when road surface temperatures could drop to as low as -7.

Hoar frost is also expected overnight with the potential for icy roads where surfaces are damp, and drivers have been warned to take appropriate precautions.

The county council’s highways teams will be gritting from 7pm. The conditions will continue to be monitored through the night and gritters will remain on standby.

The council is also refilling grit bins across the county and has asked people only to use this grit on the roads and pavements, not on their own driveways.

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said: “With the possibility of icy road surfaces and fog the advice remains that motorists should not assume roads have been gritted and to temper their driving accordingly.”

The council's website at worcestershire.gov.uk together with its 'gritter twitter' page at twitter.com/worcscc have regular weather and gritting updates.

People have also been urged to take care on side roads and residential areas which are not on the main gritting routes as these could be particularly difficult to negotiate.

Elderly residents and the more vulnerable members of communities are likely to struggle the most in the conditions and so people have been urged to pull together, especially with the prospect of more snow.

Parents have been asked to tune in to their local radio or visit the council website for school updates.

For more information the public can also call the Worcestershire Hub on 0845 607 2005 for highways enquires or 01905 765765 for more general enquiries.