17 January 2013 Last updated at 17:05 ET

Lancashire Police warning over snow travel

Drivers have been warned by police that it is "vital" to prepare for the heavy snow forecast later.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

Lancashire County Council said its fleet of 49 gritters is ready to respond to any Met Office alert.

The county council has also put a number of agricultural contractors on standby to clear more remote rural roads in the event of heavy snow.

Sgt Pat Worden, of Lancashire's Road Policing Unit, said: "It is vitally important that motorists are prepared for the severe weather that has been forecast.

"It will cause disruption during both the morning rush hour and the evening rush hour."

County Councillor Tim Ashton, Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "While the worst of the weather so far has been in East Lancashire, the Met Office is now warning that southern and coastal parts of the county which don't get snow as often as the high ground in the east, could also see some snow and ice over the coming days."