SOMERSET’S two new gritters have been named…

After a competition involving Somerset schoolchildren and residents, names for the new vehicles have been revealed.

They are: Gritty Gritty Bang Bang and Spready Mercury.

The names were chosen after a longlist of 30 was whittled down to a shortlist of six – with the public voting on their favourite two.

Gritty Gritty Bang Bang and Spready Mercury, named by Brymore Academy and West Pennard CofE School respectively, were the winners.

The schools will receive a visit from the gritter and have the honour of seeing the name embellished on the vehicle.

This year, more than 900km of gritting routes are set to be treated, using a stockpile of more than 6,400 tonnes of salt.

There are also more than 800 grit bins filled across the region.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, lead member for transport and waste, said: “Thank you to everyone who took part, the schools for their amazing and creative name suggestions and the public for helping chose the winning names. The names add flare and personality to our gritters.

“We can’t wait to see Gritty Gritty Bang Bang and Spready Mercury on the road this winter, keep an eye out for them on your travels.”

Allan Rigby, general manager at Kier, added: “It has been wonderful that during the first year of Kier delivering on the contract that we have engaged with the community on this.

“We hope children across the county wave at our drivers as they undertake the important role of making the roads safer.”