'WE are prepared for winter' -that was the message from Cumbria County Council's highway's boss.

Andy Brown, a senior manager in the county's highways team, revealed gritters are ready for the winter weather when challenged about how his team would keep the county moving in bad weather.

Speaking at the county council local committee for Eden, Mr Brown said: "Our job this winter will be to try and forecast when temperatures drop to a point where our gritting lorries are needed the most.

“We will get gritters there before we have our first snowfall of the winter.”

Councillor Neil Hughes from Eden Lakes said was concerned for the famous Kirkstone Pass, which has an altitude of 1,489 ft and is the highest pass on the A592 between Ambleside and Patterdale.

He said: "When will the county council delegate funding to the parish councils so we can undertake some of this work ourselves?”

Mr Brown said he thinks a preventive approach will be the best approach this winter.

He said: "This winter won’t be any different and we will have challenges on some of our high passes.”

A Cumbria Police spokesman said “Our advice this winter is simple; consider whether your journey is essential. If not, take the safe option and avoid travelling until the weather improves."