SPRINKLES the road gritter is just one of the 21 lorries that could be salt spreading on the roads of East Riding during the next spell of cold weather.

Five-year-old Theo Cothill, from Beverley, inspired East Riding of Yorkshire Council to give their gritters creative names after he suggested one of the trucks should be called Sprinkles.

Residents were invited to choose names for the lorries. Winning entries included Kyle Spreadmund, inspired by the Pocklington School educated tennis player Kyle Edmund, and William Wilberfrost, after another former Pocklington student William Wilberforce.

Other names include Gritty McGritface and Itsy Bitsy Teeney Weeny Yellow Anti-Slip Machiney.

Theo will be guest of honour at the launch of the gritters today and his dad John said: “Theo is very excited. He’s been more excited about this than when he saw Father Christmas.

“Theo saw a picture of one of the gritters and he asked me to ask the council if they had names, because he’d heard other areas had names for their gritters.

“We were trying to think of some good names and Theo just liked the name Sprinkles.”

More than 100 names were suggested over social media and Mike White, group manager of technical services at East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: “This has all been inspired by Theo, because he wanted to know what our gritters were called.

“So we thought naming them would be a great idea, following recent similar campaigns by Doncaster Council and Transport Scotland.

“We asked residents for suggestions and we got some really creative, funny suggestions and some with local connections too.

“I’m sure Kyle Edmund will be honoured to know he’s now got a gritter named after him.”

Cllr John Barrett, portfolio holder for operational services, thanked residents for their suggestions, saying: "I think they are all brilliant.

“Two weeks ago our gritter drivers and whole winter team did a fantastic job of working around the clock to keep the roads safe and clear during the snow and freezing temperatures.

“Hopefully next winter people will spot Sprinkles and the rest of the gritter gang and smile and wave at our drivers while they carry out their job.”

Other names include David Plowie, Maureen Gritman, Nicole Saltslinger, Basil Salty, Roger Spreaderer, Walter The Salter, Spreaddie Mercury, Thaw Enforcement, Spreaddie Flintoff, Freezy Rider, Gritney Spears, True Grit, Gritney Houston, Er Ner Sner and Ease Sliding of Yorkshire.