RESIDENTS and private establishments have been warned that Darlington Borough Council will no longer be providing them with salt.

The authority has said it is having to prioritise its salt supplies to ensure that sufficient stocks remain in place.

As a result, the council will no longer be able to respond to individual requests for salt from residents or establishments in the area.

Coun David Lyonette, Cabinet Member for Transport at Darlington Borough Council, said: "With further cold weather on the way, it is essential that we preserve the salt supply in case the deliveries we are expecting are not received.

"To date, we have provided unlimited salt on request to individuals and private establishments.

However, we are maintaining a cautious view of how long this cold spell may continue, and in line with many other local authorities, we are now prioritising the distribution of salt supplies to ensure we continue to keep our main roads, bus routes and town centre open for all."

The council's gritting team is continuing to treat over 200miles of roads using up to 200tonnes of salt per day and are working around the clock to ensure routes remain treated.