Gritters have been sent out three times in 12 hours to try to prevent key roads around Hammersmith and Fulham from freezing over.

Council teams spread grit on priority routes at 7.30pm last night and again at 3am and 6am after plummeting temperatures caused melting snow to turn to ice. Street sweeping machines have also adapted to spread grit on roads and pavements throughout the day.

Residents of the borough woke this morning to around two inches of snow which had fallen overnight. There have been light flurries this morning and the Met Office expects more heavy snow over London later this afternoon and evening.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council stockpiled 900 tonnes of grit in advance of the cold snap and is pooling resources with neighbouring Kensington and Chelsa to try to stay on top of the cold weather.

A council spokesman said: "The gritters are called out at 4am whenever a freeze is forecast. They spread four to eight tonnes of grit per night so major routes are frost-free by the morning rush."

Rubbish collection due today in Fulham will go ahead as planned, but has been delayed while the roads are cleared.