Gritters get dry run ahead of winter action

Gritting teams have rehearsed the routes the 25 lorries will take when wintry weather arrives

Gritting runs have been carried out across Shropshire as the council prepares for winter.

Snow Be Gone Kenobi and Super Spreader are among the 25 vehicles that had a grit-free early outing over the weekend.

Drivers refamiliarised themselves with their machines, as well as the 25 routes, totalling 1,462 miles (2,353 km), they will take when ice and snow arrive, said the authority.

The council-owned vehicles are based at depots in Shrewsbury, Craven Arms and Whittington, where 22,000 tonnes of rock salt has also been stockpiled.

All the gritters were serviced during the summer in readiness to be put back into use, said the council

"A great amount of work and planning goes into keeping us all safe during the winter," said cabinet member for highways, Dan Morris.

The gritting crews may not always be seen but they will be out early in the morning, late at night, on weekends and sometimes bank holidays if they are needed, he added.

Ian Mclellan from Kier Highways Shropshire said the team were in "good stead" for the challenges of winter weather conditions across the county's varied road network.