Teams of council workers have been out in force keeping County Durham moving during the bad weather.
Neighbourhood wardens from Durham County Council have been in East Stanley where they visited older and vulnerable residents to make sure they were warm and well.
Among them was 81-year-old Betty Phillips who was extremely grateful when the wardens stopped by to drop off some fresh milk.
The council is maintaining contact with care agencies across the county to ensure people who receive care at home continue to do so.
However, members of the public are also being encouraged to call on friends, neighbours and relatives who may need assistance.
Lee Alexander, the authority’s head of adult care, said: “Many people become more socially isolated when there is bad weather but a telephone call from a friend or relative can make a real difference.
“We will, of course, continue to do what we can to support those who are frail or vulnerable but would also encourage members of the public to contact people who they know who may be at risk in order to check that they are alright.
“We would also remind our vulnerable residents of the importance of staying at home and staying warm, particularly this week when we are expecting extremely poor weather conditions.”
Gritters have been out ploughing and salting priority one and two routes throughout the day and will continue to do so this evening and tomorrow morning as the conditions demand.
Although the traffic on main roads is moving, drivers should continue to drive with caution and allow extra time for their journey.
Clean and green teams are also working to keep footpaths clear in town and city centres and around priority areas such as hospitals and medical centres.
Refuse and recycling crews have been collecting in areas where it is safe to do so but have been unable to compete all rounds. Anyone whose bin has not been emptied is asked to leave it out so that crews can try to collect it tomorrow or in the coming days.
While the majority of schools remained open today, parents are advised to check the council’s website and social media channels for updates as the week progresses.
For updates on all council services, visit www.durham.gov.uk or check the council’s social media channels at facebook.com/durhamcouncil and twitter.com/DurhamCouncil.