Blackburn with Darwen Roads has revealed details of its gritting action and says gritters will hit the roads at 1pm and 11pm today.

This is due to a risk of ice and hoar frost.

According to the Met Office, temperatures are set to reach lows of -4°C and highs of 4°C today. Clear skies are forecast and the lowest temperatures are forecast at around midnight.

Temperatures are set to improve slightly throughout the week, reaching highs of 8°C by Sunday,

Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstong said: "Temperatures are well below average for the time of year and could get as low as -10°C in rural parts of Scotland on Thursday night, with daytime temperatures generally in low single figures for many. With clear skies, overnight ice could create some particularly tricky travel conditions."

The council said the best time to grit is the evening before cold weather is forecast.

A spokesperson for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: The optimum time to spread salt depends on a variety of factors. When possible, it's best to carry out gritting treatment in the evening prior to cold weather at approximately 6.30pm, and/or in the morning before traffic builds up.

"Gritting at this time ensures the best performance of the grit. It also means the roads are treated in advance of peak traffic flows, before the times when frost and ice will form, and when there will be enough traffic on the roads to help the salt mix with the moisture to form a saline solution.

"Due to the impact on traffic and time delays, it is always best to avoid gritting in rush hour traffic, whenever possible.

"Difficulties can arise when rain is forecast to continue right up to the time of freezing, or when the rain is forecast to turn to snow. In these circumstances the gritters must wait until the rain has stopped, or the salt will be washed away."