GRITTERS in Evesham were well prepared for Saturday’s frost forecast, but their good work was swept away the next morning.

A Journal reader was glad to see the gritters out in Evesham town centre on Saturday night but their satisfaction turned to frustration when at 7.40am the following morning, he saw sweepers in Vine Street brushing the grit away.

He said: “The gritters were out in Evesham as a sharp frost was forecast, which as you are well aware helps reduce icy roads and provides a safer road surface for motorists.

On Sunday morning I was absolutely amazed to be following a road sweeper along Vine Street on my way to work. This road sweeping lorry was actually sweeping up the grit that just the previous evening was spread by a co-worker driving a gritter.”

A Worcestershire County Council spokesperson said it would look into the matter: “Road sweeping in urban areas when some grit is still present can happen occasionally and we will be in touch with the district council about Vine Street to see if it could have been avoided on this occasion.

“The decision of whether sweeping is needed is left to the sweeper vehicle driver to gauge how much residual grit is present and weigh this against the need to clear the highway.

“We always work closely with our district partners and will remind all cleansing authorities of the need to take these issues into consideration.”