Dorset's roads will be gritted overnight as icy weather is predicted to hit the county overnight. 

From 9pm tonight, roads across the county will be salted and gritted as temperatures are expected to drop. 

Dorset County Council says it will treat the main salting network, split into five domains and consisting of 680 miles of roads, when conditions are damp and road temperatures are forecast near freezing or before snow.

The Met Office has said temperatures have already dropped below freezing in some parts and it's expected to get even colder by the end of the night. 

Roads are due to be gritted from 9pm in: 

  • The north domain (Sherborne, Sturminster Newton) 
  • The central domain (Shaftesbury, Blandford, West Lulworth, Osmington, Beaminster, Lyme Regis) 
  • The Purbeck and east domain (Dorchester, Bere Regis, Swanage, Wareham)
  • The coastal domain (Weymouth, Portland, Bridport)

No gritting is planned for the Christchurch domain which includes Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch. 

Drivers are urged to take extra care especially in the early morning and late at night.