EXTRA stocks of salt have been provided across York as freezing weather grips North Yorkshire.

With sub-zero temperatures and snow forecast for the rest of the week, City of York Council workers yesterday filled 170 bins which are only stocked in extreme weather.

This is in addition to the 199 bins which were filled at the start of the winter.

Coun David Levene, the council’s cabinet member for environmental services, said: “Our priority is always to ensure the safety of residents and temperatures have remained low and decreased overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday.”

“I took the decision with officers to get all ward salt bins refilled, over and above the core highways bins we have already replenished.

“With temperatures well below freezing and a forecast for more snow in the coming days, this is the right action to take to protect residents.”

The council said its gritting teams were on standby round the clock to treat roads, paths and cycle routes and refill salt bins.

The weather has caused problems with Ryedale rubbish collections, with some areas not receiving their usual service yesterday.

Residents have been asked to take their waste and recycling away from the kerbside and it will be removed through the next scheduled collections. Ryedale District Council said the decision was “not taken lightly” and was for safety reasons.