ROADS bosses are preparing for the worst this winter.

With forecasters suggesting the country could be in for a freezing and snowy few months, Scottish Borders Council are topping up their salt stores and grit bins.

They also have their 99 vehicles - 63 gritters and 36 path tractors - serviced and ready for a busy schedule.

Councillor Gordon Edgar, who is responsible for roads, told us: “We have had a series of mild winters in recent years - which has brought its own problems – but it is likely we will experience a more traditional severe winter sometime soon.

“If we do receive a prolonged spell of cold weather, the Council has vehicles ready, salt stocked and grit bins across the Borders for the public to use to help keep the Borders moving."

Members of the ruling Executive this week approved a winter service plan.

A total of 28 primary gritting routes have been identified.

And a total of 1,105 grit bins - 53 more than last year - are being positioned around the region.

As of this week the local authority has 18,750 tonnes of salt in storage.