Sled Zeppelin, William Wall-ice and Gonnae Snow Dae That drafted in help to tackle winter snows

The new names have been added to salt spreaders as trunk road maintenance firm BEAR Scotland gears up its 148-strong winter fleet.

The newly-named spreaders for its north east and north west operations will join already-named vehicles in its south east unit such as Sir Andy Flurry, Gritty Gritty Bang Bang and For Your Ice Only.

More of the south east fleet will be named soon from competitions run in schools and on radio stations.

The 32-tonne lorries are some of the largest of their kind in the UK and will focus on spreading pre-wetted salt to prevent ice forming.

Scotland's Bravest Gritter is among the largest in the UK. Picture: BEAR Scotland

The news came as temperatures are expected to dip to near or below zero across parts of Scotland tonight.

A total of 94 BEAR vehicles will be in use across the north and 47 in the south east this winter, including 21 new spreaders and seven pavement speaders.

They are among a record 230 used by all such operating companies, based at 40 depots across the country.

The firm has more than 180 staff across the north and more than 90 in the south east.

The winning logo by Roisin McKay of Holy Cross Primary School in Croy in the Winter Ready art competition. Picture: BEAR Scotland

BEAR said it had stockpiled 57,500 tonnes of salt at its depots in the north and 25,000 tonnes at those in the south east.

The spreaders’ movements showing the roads they have treated can be followed on Transport Scotland’s online trunk road gritter tracker.

Meantime, BEAR’s Winter Ready art competition to design a logo encouraging drivers to be prepared for conditions was won by primary seven pupil Roisin McKay from Holy Cross primary school at Croy in North Lanarkshire.

Details of winter plans by Amey, the firm which maintains trunk roads in the south west, have been requested.

Gonnae Snow Dae That is among the newly-named salt speaders. Picture: BEAR Scotland

BEAR Scotland managing director Iain Murray said: “This winter, our dedicated and experienced team across the north remain as committed as ever to doing as much as possible to keep Scotland’s key routes open and safe for motorists.

“We will closely monitor conditions on a 24/7 basis meaning we can act quickly to changing winter weather conditions.

“We remind members of the public to play their part and ensure their vehicles are well maintained and check with Traffic Scotland for the latest journey information before setting out.”

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