GRITTERS were due to be out in force on roads across the county tonight in anticipation of a big freeze - and possibly snow.

Oxfordshire County Council said it would dispatch its entire fleet of 29 gritters on a salting sortie this evening and again in the early hours of tomorrow.

County Hall was warned to expect snow mid-morning on Thursday.

A spokesman said all A-roads and busy bus routes would be gritted - and snowploughs sent out if heavy snow fell.

Meteorologist Barry Gromett, of the Met Office, said: "The greatest risk of the heaviest snow is in London and to the west of the capital.

"Oxford might miss out on the immediate flurry, but I'd not discount saying some snow might fall.

"However, the main feature of the weather will be the bitingly cold wind from the south east.

"Temperatures will be around zero or just below, but it will feel more like -10C.

"It looked at one time that between two and four centimetres of snow might fall in Oxford, but it looks more likely to fall in Hampshire now."