ANY motorist will know the dread of the return of frosty mornings and the daily de-icing of car windscreens.

But the Highways Agency team is preparing for a winter of keeping the motorway network running in the face of winds, rain, ice and snow.

The team at the agency’s regional control centre in Newton is urging motorists to do their bit to help make their job a little easier this winter.

Andrew Olive, severe weather manager at the agency, said: “It helps us greatly if the public can do the small things like have an emergency kit in their car and plan their journey properly.

“Check the forecast so you are not surprised by anything on the route.

“You would be surprised how many times we find people in conditions where because their car is warm they just have a T-shirt on and no extra warmth.”

He stressed the importance of keeping warm if motorists are stuck for any length of time in a cold car, having run out of petrol or having broken down.