SNOW: Alarms set 'very early' as gritting teams to hit roads at 5am

Both Bradford Council and Kirklees Council pledged to have their gritters out on the road from 5am tomorrow, stating that alarms had been set "very early".

The forecast looks likely to create uncertainty for commuters, parents on the school run and business bosses, with one member of the public telling Kirklees Council: "You've had the warnings, you know it's a full day of hands-on."

• Read more: Hour by hour weather forecast for Bradford as amber alert issued

Today, some were already changing their plans due to the forecast, with Bradford Business Improvement District announcing that its 'Brews with the BID' member event would now be held online instead.

Chris Wood, from the AA, said: “If you need to travel, reduce your speed to account for the conditions and leave plenty of space behind other vehicles, and try to use main roads where possible as these are more likely to have been gritted."

In the course of today, the Met Office ramped up the severity of its weather warning, saying there was a "good chance" some communities could be cut off.

The amber alert for Bradford lasts for six hours - from midday today until 6pm.

Earlier, a yellow weather warning for snow had been issued for Bradford, running for 24 hours, from 6am on Thursday until the same time on Friday. This is still in place but a more intense period of snow is expected this afternoon and into the early evening for most of the Bradford district and surrounding areas.

Bradford Council's Highways team said: "Our brilliant Winter Maintenance Team will be out gritting the roads on two night patrols at 9pm (Wednesday) and 5am (Thursday).

"Always allow yourself extra time to defrost your car in cold weather, to avoid rushing on the roads."

Bradford Council posted this picture on X as it pledged to have gritting teams on the roads by 5am (Image: Bradford Council)

In neighbouring Kirklees, which includes Cleckheaton, Birkenshaw, parts of Oakenshaw and Heckmondwike, the Council's winter team posted a message on X today to say: "We will be doing a grit across our normal gritting network from 6pm and we’ll be keeping an eye on things overnight.

"We’ll do another grit from 5am. Please travel safely."

One member of the public responded to say: "Make sure you're on top of things tomorrow. You've had the warnings, you know it's a full day of 'hands-on', and some of us need to be on the road at teatime.

"I am resigned to not getting my van home early hours of Friday, however, even though I'm only two miles from the M62."

Kirklees Council's winter team replied: "Our teams will be leaving the depot at 5am tomorrow morning so their alarms will be set very early! It’s thanks to their hard work and dedication that helps keep our networks running, and as safely as possible."

The Telegraph & Argus has approached Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police for more details of the preparations being made amid the weather alert.