New gritters unveiled for winter

The gritters are thought to be better for the environment as less salt is used

The Highways Agency has unveiled a new fleet of gritters which will be used across the East Midlands this winter.

The vehicles will patrol the M1 motorway and other major routes.

The new orange gritters replace the more familiar yellow models and all have state-of-the-art monitoring technology on board.

Simon Phillips from the Highways Agency said the new vehicles will use pre-wet salt which gets to work more quickly on road surfaces to prevent ice forming.

He said: "It is slightly different than the ones that have been used previously in that this one can now spread salt water - brine - on to the carriage way as well as the dry salt.

"And the reason we do that is to provide the salt with a better opportunity to work. It makes it work faster so we clear the road and prevent ice forming more effectively."

The vehicles are also believed to be better for the environment as less salt is used.