Council gritting teams ensured North Lincolnshire kept moving despite heavy snowfall and freezing conditions.

Winter maintenance staff from North Lincolnshire Council went into action over the weekend of February 4 and 5 when the wintry weather took hold, with main roads and footpaths cleared.

The authority's new snow warden scheme was also handed its first test, with a co-ordinated approach to clearing snow put into practice.

Councillor Nigel Sherwood, the council's cabinet member for highways and neighbourhoods, said: "Seven gritters went out with ploughs on Saturday and concentrated on priority one snow-clearing routes.

"Nine gritters went on Sunday morning with ploughs on all of the required priority routes.

"Teams were also working on the footways and car parks in Scunthorpe, Brigg, Barton-Upon-Humber, Epworth and Crowle."

As part of a winter maintenance review following the extreme weather conditions experienced in the 2010-11 winter, the council compiled a list of around 150 people from the agriculture and business communities who could be called upon to help clear snow, if needed.

Mr Sherwood said this was used to draft in extra machinery over the weekend.

He said: "We had one contractor with a machine clearing the A1077 between South Ferriby and Barton, where snow had blown across the fields."

And he said although the snow did not compare with the levels recorded last time, it was important to be prepared and take action when necessary.

Mr Sherwood said: "We have got to be proactive and the whole nation got caught last time, so we don't intend to be caught this time.

"A little bit of foresight was used and they did grit footways last week, which helped because people have been walking and grinding it in.

"Doing that beforehand helped and if you get some provision in before, it has got to help.

"We are taking it all very seriously."

Councillor Rob Waltham, who is the lead snow warden for Brigg, said he felt the clearing operation went well in the market town.

He said: "You always want to do better but the feedback I have had has been very positive.

"The High Street and main roads were cleared and the gritting has been very consistent.

"It has not been the worst case but we have tested the system and used the extra kit.

"Snow blowers were used on the car parks in Brigg and they cleared all of the snow away."

Businesses were hit by the wintry weather, with driving instructors forced to call off lessons because of the conditions.

Mick Winfrey, 55, an instructor at Scunthorpe Driving School, from Glover Road, Scunthorpe, said: "I have had to cancel most of my lessons because of the snow.

"We always seem to be quite surprised in the UK when it snows in the winter, even though the weather forecast tells us it will.

"If one of my students is near to a test standard, I take them out in the town to practice but in this weather it is too dangerous.

"I have seen a few gritters out on the road but they are dealing with a lot of snow."

Helen Drayton, 37, a resident of Ryedale Avenue, Winterton, who runs B&D Light Haulage from her home, said she felt the council's winter maintenance work paid off.

She said: "My road is not clear because we are on a side road.

"In terms of the business, we were able to get the van out on Monday so that was not affected by the snow.

"The main roads in Winterton were gritted and I think the council learned from the bad weather we got last year."

Emergency services have issued advice for dealing with the continuing cold weather.

Peter Ripley, director of operations at East Midlands Ambulance Service, which saw an increase in calls in all of its coverage areas over the weekend of February 4 and 5, appealed for common sense to be used.

He said: "The bad weather is set to continue and people are urged to heed the advice offered by the emergency and health services and to use common sense.

"Be a responsible driver and slow down – the wet, snow and fog conditions have contributed to an increase in road traffic collisions.

"Make sure you leave a good distance between you and the vehicle in front.

"If out walking, wear sensible footwear and wrap up warm."

Mr Ripley added: "Manage your own minor illness or injury by making sure you have collected your repeat prescription, in particular for inhalers or heart medication and make sure you take them with you if you go out."

Pete Baron, of Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, also advised motorists to take extra care when driving in icy conditions. He said: "If the predicted very cold conditions continue, then the advice is to keep tuned in to local media, follow the advice given there and exercise caution. Avoid going out if you can but if you do need to go out, be very cautious and keep a much bigger distance between you and the vehicle in front."

Lincolnshire residents can now monitor conditions on the county's roads and keep up to date with the activities of Lincolnshire County Council's winter highways team through social media.

The authority has launched a Gritter Twitter service, which also provides people with the opportunity to ask questions to highways staff.

Councillor William Webb, executive member for highways at the council, said: "By keeping up to date with LincsCC_Winter on Twitter, the travelling public can better understand how the cold weather is affecting our roads before they set off on their journeys and, who knows, it could prevent accidents and even save lives."