SNOW Champions will be helping to keep Sandwell clear of ice and snow for the sixth year running this winter.

The council is providing snow shovels and salt shakers to people willing to clear pavements and pathways to help out in their communities.

Five hundred kits, which include 6kg of salt, a shovel and a high-vis vest, are available for new Snow Champions who haven’t applied to join the scheme in previous years.

Over the past five winters, 5,000 Snow Champions have helped to clear snow from hundreds of miles of pavements and paths - preventing slips, trips and falls and helping people get about in the snow and ice.

Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Steve Eling said: “Snow Champions is a great community campaign to enable people to help one another when it snows.

“We want people to help out a neighbour by clearing snow from their path or driveway or by putting salt down on pavements when it’s icy."

He said: “This is an incredibly popular campaign and I’m very pleased that so many community-minded people want to help each other if we get some bad winter weather.

“If we do get a cold snap, I’ll be looking forward to seeing so many people clearing snow and ice and making it easier for everyone to get around.”

Anyone wanting to be a Snow Champion should visit www.sandwell.gov.uk/snowchampion to apply.

Anyone who doesn’t have access to a computer at home can visit their local library which has free internet access, or visit a housing office where staff will help you.

The council’s gritting crew are also on 24-hour standby to treat Sandwell’s 250 plus miles of main roads whenever the temperatures fall below freezing.