Gritters are expected to be out in force with current forecasts predicting snow through Friday and into the weekend.

Forecasts for east Lancashire have said up to 15cm could fall in higher areas and warned strong winds could cause blizzard-like conditions. County Councillor Tim Ashton, Cabinet member for highways and transport, said crews gritted the roads throughout Lancashire on Thursday evening.

He said: "We're as well prepared as we've ever been thanks to experience gained from recent severe winters and our gritting crews will be working around the clock if needed to keep Lancashire moving.

"As always our top priority in the event of significant snow will be to focus at first on ploughing and salting the network of A and B roads which link towns, villages, and vital infrastructure such as train stations and hospitals.

"During a snowstorm this can be a challenge in itself, and depending on the conditions it could be some time before the main routes are clear and we have the resources available to treat the secondary network of more minor roads.

"I would ask people to be prepared and check their vehicles are equipped for winter, and also to carefully! consider whether they need to make a journey at all if they know travel is disrupted."

Forecasters said snow will continue tonight and be heavy at times with strong south easterly winds maintaining the risk of blizzards over high ground.