AS the North-East braces itself for heavy snowfalls forecast for this evening, a fleet of gritters and snowploughs is being mobilised to keep the region's roads moving.

The Met Office yesterday issued a severe weather warning for Northern England - with the first snow expected to arrive at about 6pm tonight, causing problems on the roads overnight and into tomorrow's rush hour.

Forecasters are predicting a 60 per cent risk of disruption for most of the region, as biting northerly winds bring blizzard conditions that are expected to last anything up to 48 hours.

Yesterday, the Highways Agency, which is responsible for keeping the main routes clear - including the A1 and A1(M), the A19 and A66 - said it was ready to keep the region moving.

Kevin Hoare, the agency's winter services manager in the North-East, said the agency was expecting to spread about 24,000 tonnes of salt on the roads.

Speaking from a depot in Carrville, on the outskirts of Durham City, which will be keeping the main stretches of the A1(M) through County Durham clear, Mr Hoare said: "We are expecting some snow to come in, but it can change from day to day, and we will be looking at the latest forecasts on Thursday.

"At present, we are expecting snow on high ground above 200 metres, while the east coast will get snow showers.

"We are confident that the trunk roads we are responsible for will be well prepared.

"We have a very experienced team of people working both at the control centre, in Darlington, and around the region at our depots, who have many years practice at keeping the trunk road network open, even in the harshest of conditions." The agency operates five depots in the region, from Alnwick, in Northumberland, to Bedale, in North Yorkshire, where its fleet of 23 snow ploughs and three snow blowers are based.

Meanwhile, the authorities who look after the rest of the region's road network say they are also ready to deal with whatever the weather throws at them tonight.

Durham County Council will have 65 gritters on the road and North Yorkshire County Council will have 100, backed by as many as 150 contractors from the farming community.