Sunderland school children give new names to council's fleet of gritters
Sunderland's gritting lorries are out and about this week - helping to combat the icy weather still hitting the North East
Sunderland's gritting lorries are out and about this week - helping to combat the icy weather still hitting the North East.
Most of Tyne and Wear, as well as parts of Northumberland and County Durham will be under a yellow weather warning for ice and snow until midnight tomorrow, according to the Met Office.
We're being warned to expect power cuts, cancelled trains, and icy roads.
But since Saturday, Sunderland's fleet of gritters have been out and about on the roads, with a new look.
Earlier this autumn, Sunderland City Council invited all primary schools to take part in a gritter naming competition, with each school submitting one suggestion via the CommonPlace platform. A judging panel selected the winning entries at the end of October, ensuring the vehicles were ready to hit the roads under their new names as the winter programme begins.
Each gritter now proudly displays its identity, with a vinyl name on the front and magnetic plaques on each side door.
The winning names are:
· Ice Ice Baby
· Ice to See You!
· Sir Frost A Lot
· It’s Gritmas!
· Gritty Gritty Bang Bang
· Spready Mercury
· Gritney Spears
· The Gritter Monster
· Ready Salted
· The Mackem Melter
· Mr Plough
· Super Salted
Councillor Leonard, Cabinet Member of Environment, NET Zero and Transport at Sunderland City Council said: “It’s fantastic to see our gritters heading out today with names chosen by Sunderland’s schoolchildren. The creativity and humour in the winning entries will bring a smile to people’s faces when they spot the vehicles on the roads.
“More importantly, this competition has helped raise awareness among pupils about the vital role our winter maintenance programme plays in keeping Sunderland safe and moving during the colder months. I’d like to thank every school that took part and congratulate the winners whose names will now travel across the city all winter long.”