OXFORDSHIRE has not received any fresh deliveries of salt for its roads as forecasters predicted the the freezing conditions would continue past the weekend.

The county council has cut the proportion of roads it grits from 43 per cent to 29 per cent and is in dispute with its supplier, Cheshire-based Salt Union, having received no deliveries 0so far this year.

It believes it has just enough salt for the current cold snap but has called on the Government to ensure stocks are replenished because it says the company is prioritising other areas.

Council spokesman Paul Smith said: “Under the contract, Salt Union is contractually obliged to replenish the county council’s salt stocks.

“That has not been happening in recent days as Salt Union have been choosing which councils to re-stock regardless of contracts.”

Late yesterday a council source added: “We are hopeful of deliveries in the next 48 hours.”

No-one from Salt Union was available for comment.

Mr Smith said snowploughs and gritters had been working around the clock but the number of roads being treated had been cut.

He said: “The severity of the weather means that the council must focus on the most important routes, including important A roads.”

Notwithstanding the reduction in roads being gritted, the council is also trying to protect its stocks in case the cold weather lasts longer than predicted.

Met Office spokesman Alison Richards forecast sunny spells today and tomorrow in Oxfordshire, but with temperatures falling to -7C tonight, roads will be icy and treacherous.

“There could be light snow flurries on Saturday night and Sunday, with temperatures remaining well below freezing.”

The heavy snow closed about 250 out of 300 schools in the county, with 68,000 pupils getting a day off.

Cheney School headteacher Jolie Kirby said: “Lots of our staff would not have been able to make the journey into work because many of them don’t live in the city centre and many of our students are also from the estates and it is difficult for those areas to be cleared.”

Oxford Academy principal Mike Reading added: “The key issue is safety, not just of pupils but also of staff, who in many cases have to travel considerable distances.”

The southbound carriageway of the M40 between junction 11 at Banbury and 10 for Brackley was closed for several hours after a lorry jack-knifed until it reopened at about 7am.

Some drivers were determined to get to work, including Claire Moloney, manager at Pink and Black estate agents in Summertown, who put chains on the front tyres of her Volkswagen Golf.

The 38-year-old said: “I think it’s important for people to try and get to work as long as they won’t be stranded somewhere.”

County councillor Ian Hudspeth, cabinet member for transport, said: “I cannot recall anything like this in Oxfordshire before. The advice is that if you don’t have to drive, then don’t because the conditions are so treacherous.”