Snow-clearing tractors added to gritter fleet
North Yorkshire CouncilMini tractors will be deployed in North Yorkshire's towns this winter to keep the county moving during bad weather.
The compact machines will be used in urban areas which are difficult to access by larger vehicles, to clear roads and paths during challenging weather conditions.
North Yorkshire Council said they would initially be tasked with trimming flower beds and hedges, as well as carrying fencing supplies, but were fitted with snow-clearing attachments to provide assistance to the gritting fleet.
The authority said keeping the county moving was a "key priority" and it was always looking to strengthen its winter maintenance fleet.
The tractors will be stationed in Harrogate, Richmond and Scarborough and will be deployed in the worst affected parts of the county during severe weather.
The council operates 70 gritters, works with more than 100 farming contractors and has several snow ploughs and snowblowers available.
The local authority said more than 2,700 miles (4,345 km) of the county's roads were gritted during the winter months.
About 50,000 tonnes of salt is in storage with about 5,000 salt bins and heaps across the county.
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