GRITTERS were out last night (November 5) as Teignbridge and other parts of the county suffered their first freeze of the season.

County Hall says it has some 25,000 tonnes of salt stored in preparation for winter gritting expeditions which this year will feature a new fleet of tractors to keep county roads free from ice.

Skanska, Devon’s highway maintenance contractor, has taken delivery of nine tractors supplied by local business, Masons Kings.

The additional vehicles will also be used as a back-up to operate salt spreaders, snow blowers and ploughs.

Six new gritters with snow ploughs have also been added to Devon’s frontline contingent of winter vehicles.

Devon’s gritting routes cover some 2,000 miles of the county’s 8,000-mile road network.

Cllr Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: ‘Our Highway Operations Control Centre is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to co-ordinate work on the highway network - and is equipped to monitor the effects of winter weather on Devon’s roads.

‘With more miles of roads than any other highway authority in the country, it’s vital that we have a reliable fleet working on our roads, particularly during the winter months.’

He added: ‘We have the additional support of our army of Snow Warden volunteers during prolonged cold spells to treat roads which aren’t covered on our gritting network.

‘We’re also encouraging towns and parishes to report online if their grit bin needs re-filling or if their snow wardens need to top up their salt stocks.’