A FAMILY-RUN engineering firm is helping Britain fight back against the wintry weather which has resulted in roads grinding to a halt over the past two years.

North Yorkshire-based Econ Engineering has produced the largest and most technologically advanced gritting vehicle ever to be used on the UK’s roads.

Weighing in at 32 tonnes, the super-gritter is the heaviest vehicle permitted on the UK’s roads and has the capacity to carry 20 per cent more salt than the largest standard gritter to avoid fuel-wasting repeat journeys to the depot.

It also assesses air and surface temperature and moisture to ensure the optimum quantity of salt is distributed on every section of road.

Econ Engineering, which turns over £25 million a year, was established in 1969 and employs more than 190 staff at its Ripon factory, manufacturing 12 new road mending and clearing vehicles every week.