Working with contractor Kier, the local authority has added two new vehicles to its 23-gritter fleet.

It hopes the naming challenge will help ‘give the fleet some personality and to raise awareness of winter road safety’.

The council’s lead member for transport and digital, Richard Wilkins, said: ‘It’s a great opportunity for local children to get involved in naming the road gritters.

‘It gives us a great platform to educate schools and families on the importance of gritters and road safety in extremely cold conditions.

‘I can’t wait to see the creative names the children come up with and see some new gritters on the road this winter.’

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