TEAMS of gritters are poised and at the ready as Gloucestershire braces itself for flurries of snow this weekend.

Weather forecasters have predicted as much as two inches of powdery white flakes could fall in parts of the county, accompanied by stinging sleet and below-freezing temperatures.

County road safety bosses said the wintry outlook, allied with already icy surfaces, would lead to treacherous driving conditions.

Ian Thomas, weather expert for the Echo, said: "It's looking like a front of snow, sleet and rain will arrive on Saturday afternoon at around 4pm or 5pm.

"In some parts it will soon be replaced by sleet and rain but the further east and the higher up you go, the more concentrated the snow will get.

"We could have as much as two inches in some of the higher areas."

He added that the outlook beyond today remained unclear, with a front of warmer air moving in tomorrow which could see temperatures rise.

It comes as motorists across Cheltenham have been forced to scrape ice from their car windscreens before heading to work this week, with overnight temperatures dipping to -9C.

Today's scheduled League Two football fixture between Cheltenham Town and AFC Wimbledon was postponed due to the frozen playing surface at Whaddon Road.

The conditions, carried over to the UK on Siberian air flows, have also seen ponds and lakes in the county freeze over, causing difficulties for swans and ducks at Gloucestershire Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

The county council will be sending a fleet of gritters to cover roads in the area with more than 11,000 tonnes of salt stocks available.

The authority said it planned to treat all A and B roads, giving access to emergency services before the snow arrives.

It will also treat main bus routes in the county if there is enough time.

A spokesman for the council's road safety team warned motorists not to travel if they could avoid it.

He said: "Before travelling ask yourself whether the journey is necessary. If it is you must be prepared for it and allow plenty of time.

"Plan your journey carefully, leave in plenty of time and keep your speed down. It is essential that you keep enough distance between you and the vehicle in front.

"Bad weather is a hazard and people should approach it like any other hazard."

Twitter updates on which roads are being gritted can be followed via @GlosHighways and @GlosCC.