YOUNGSTERS at East Sussex schools have been getting up close and personal with the gritters which kept the county moving through the winter.

The latest vehicles to join the East Sussex Highways fleet have been on tour visiting children from the schools which christened them with a variety of winter-themed names.

The latest schools to receive a visit included Denton Community Primary School, in Newhaven, where Lochlan Macleod picked the topical name Salty McSaltface.

Pevensey & Westham CE Primary School was visited by Ready Salted, named by Jack Parker, while children from Burfield Academy, Hailsham, got to meet the gritter they named Sprinkles.

Meanwhile, Robsack Wood Community Primary School, in St Leonards, received a visit from The Olaf Express, named by pupil Jayleigh Rae in tribute to the snowman from the Disney film Frozen.

Cllr Carl Maynard, East Sussex County Council lead member for transport and environment, said: “Children at East Sussex schools showed great wit, ingenuity and imagination in choosing the names for our gritters.

“Now winter has given way to spring and the temperatures are rising, the gritters have been able to take time out from keeping our roads clear to visit the schools which gave them their names.

“We’ve had a very good reaction from the youngsters who were excited to see their gritter and enjoyed seeing the vehicles close-up.”