As temperatures plummet across Cornwall tonight, fear not! RNAS Cold Nose, Wheal Gritty, and Daphne Du Meltier – just three of Cornwall's hilariously named gritters – will be out in force, ensuring people's safety! 

These aren't typos; they're the winning entries from a public competition held earlier this year by Cornwall Council.

In February, residents were invited to name the council's 25 gritters, with the council declaring, "It's time to give something back to our gritters – and what better way than to give them a name they can wear with pride next winter?"

This map shows where the 'proper Cornish' gritters will be tonight This map shows where the 'proper Cornish' gritters will be tonight (Image: Cornwall Council) The winning names, a nod to Cornish places and culture, include RNAS Coldnose, Shiverton Cross, Gurt Licker the Gritter, and Hayle Storm, ensuring that Cornwall's roads remain safe and sound this winter.

The full list of names include:

  • Choughed to Grits
  • Crimp My Ride
  • Daphne du Meltier
  • Demeltza
  • Dreckly Me ‘Ansum
  • Gritchard Trevithick
  • Gryttin Da!
  • Gurt Licker the Gritter
  • Hayle Storm
  • Humphreeze Davy
  • Jam First
  • Kernow Bys Grittin
  •  Mevagritty
  • Proper Job
  • RNAS Cold Nose
  • Salt Piran
  • Salty Maid
  • Salty McSaltash
  • Shiverton Cross
  • Sir Grit-A-Lot
  • South Frosty
  • Spreadruth
  • The Beast of Bodmin
  • The Gritterman’s Friends
  • Wheal Gritty

Now that the rain and snow have cleared, there is a fresh warning in place for ice.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice with icy stretches expected to form on untreated surfaces during Thursday evening and overnight into Friday morning as temperatures drop below freezing.

What should I do?

  • Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal. Not needing to rush, reduces your risk of accidents, slips, and falls.
  • If you need to make a journey on foot, try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be less slippery. Similarly, if cycling, try and stick to main roads which are more likely to have been treated.
  • Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, and amending your travel plans if necessary.
  • Be prepared for weather warnings to change when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.