The closing date for the competition for P4-7 children to name a gritter is this Friday, May 30, when all entries must be submitted by schools.

Previous competitions to name our gritters have proved incredibly popular, resulting in winter roads being made safer by vehicles called Lewis Caploughdi, Salt Disnae, Oh Plougher of Scotland and Spready Mercury, among many more inspired suggestions.

All names must, of course, have a wintry aspect but imaginations can take flight in combining that with, for instance, a favourite celebrity or catchphrase.

Eight winning children will have their picture taken with their named gritter and will be able to follow its travels on the council’s public gritter-tracker whenever it is called into action.