A COMPANY is geared-up to cope with whatever weather the remainder of the winter might bring.

Openreach – which provides a telephone and broadband network across the region – has stocked-up with 62,000 kilos of rock salt, 1,700 snow shovels, 3,400 grips for footwear and 3,500 sets of snow socks for van tyres.

The firm currently employs more than 2,300 people – mostly engineers – across Yorkshire and Humberside, and the workforce is growing. A campaign is recruiting 200 extra engineers.

“Making sure they all have access to the latest winter weather kit is not only important to help them do their job but also essential to ensure they stay safe - particularly in snow and ice,” said Paul McGinlay, Openreach director of operations in the region.

“Our network covers some of the most remote places in Yorkshire and Humberside so this is something that’s really important to us.”

The company is also asking any members of the public who spot network damage, such as dangling cables or broken phone poles, following bad weather to get in touch.

Reports of damage can be submitted via the Openreach website or by calling 0800 023 2023.