'Spreaddie Mercury' to be utilised by Lincolnshire County Council after red weather warning issued for heatwave

With scorching temperatures expected next week, a plucky gritter will be on call to keep traffic moving.

With most of Lincolnshire receiving its first ever red weather warming ahead of a spike in temperatures on Monday and Tuesday, Lincolnshire County Council Highways have put plans in place for a gritter to be on 24-hour standby.

Affectionately nicknamed 'Spreaddie Mercury', it will be on hand to spread sand on road surfaces that could start to melt in the extreme temperatures.

The small gritter is filled with 2.5 tonnes of sand and can treat around 20 miles of road between fill-ups.

Bitumen used in the surface of roads can change texture when surface temperatures exceed 50C. Once that point is passed, the tar-like substance can melt - leaving the road surface sticky.

To counter this, Spreaddie will be able to spread sand directly across affected areas and keep roads running where needed.

Coun Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: "Spreaddie Mercury is on call and ready to go as the heat builds.

"This gritter might have a memorable nickname but it carries out a very serious job. So far we have not had to send the machine out for any heat-related issues at any time over the past five years plus.

"Spreaddie is usually sent out to put sand down in oil or fuel that’s spilt on the roads but that job description can expand quite a bit when we’re faced with what’s about to arrive weather-wise.

"With the warning about such high heat there is a very real chance that road surface temperatures could exceed 50C. If that happens then we will be ready to react where needed and this could mean the first time many of us see a gritter on Lincolnshire roads during the summer."

The council's gritting team say they will be on the lookout for reports of possible heat-related issues on the county’s roads from members of the public, highways officers and the emergency services.

Any surface concerns that are reported will be investigated and, if necessary, Spreaddie will be sent out to dust the area with sand.