For a number of years, North Tyneside Council has predicted when to grit the roads through the use of sophisticated weather prediction equipment including strategically placed road temperature sensors.

Now the council is fitting all its gritting wagons with a vehicle tracking system.

Five wagons already feature the device while the remaining ten will be fitted with the system in the coming weeks.

It means the authority can see where the 15 wagons are at any given time, enabling them to be redirected to a priority area.

The system can also produce a 'snail-trail' on a computer map of the borough to show where the wagons have been, which helps to ensure that no area is missed.

The technology was used for the first time last weekend when the council gritted 240 miles of roads on four occasions – using a total of
300 tonnes of rock salt.

Coun Bruce Pickard, cabinet member for clean neighbourhoods, said: "Motorists can be reassured that we're using sophisticated technology to help us keep them as safe as possible this winter.

"Obviously, drivers can do their bit by reducing their speed and driving with caution in bad weather."