Surrey County Council has stepped up its efforts to tackle severe winter weather - now it is calling on residents and communities to offer their support.

The council has ordered 50% more salt than last year to take the total to 13,000 tonnes and 21 extra miles of road will be gritted regularly, which equates to covering nearly 1,100 more miles in a normal winter.

The help of 27 extra farmers with ploughs has been enlisted to bring the total to 35, while the support of the South East 4x4 Club, whose 90 volunteers use their vehicles to help people get around in harsh weather, has been secured together with organisations including the Salvation Army.

In addition, the council has pledged an extra £1 million to help meet the costs of combating the effects of bad weather.

Now staff and politicians across the council are spreading a message of teamwork to residents and other Surrey organisations and groups.

Surrey County Council leader Dr Andrew Povey said: "There is a need for all of us to play our part in preparing for and getting through any severe winter weather Surrey may encounter.

"The county council has been planning for months to make sure it does its duty to help keep the road network moving as much as possible, continues providing services to the most vulnerable and carries on providing grit for residents to spread on paths and drives in their community.

"But the truth is we cannot do everything. If we are supported by residents and communities, things will be much better for the county as a whole. If residents help us by looking out for elderly and vulnerable neighbours and clearing snow away around their own properties, things will hopefully be much easier for everyone.

"Likewise, if local businesses get together to prepare for the winter, they will no doubt limit the impact of any severe weather.

"People may be worried they will be sued if they clear their paths - but that is not the case. Unless residents do something that makes the situation much worse, like melting the ice with hot water and causing black ice, the risk is minimal."