New state-of-the-art gritting trucks are being tested on Bradford’s roads ahead of plans to replace the district’s 16-strong fleet.

One of the first two 18-tonne, four-wheel-drive, vehicles has now been delivered to Bradford Council’s Shearbridge Road depot.

Martin Hamer, the Council’s principal officer of fleet management, said the trucks are the first in a rolling programme to replace the Council’s fleet.

He said that workers would be testing out the new automatic vehicles over the next month or so, before deciding on the next delivery of replacement gritters.

He said the old fleet was brought in about five years ago and reconditioned, with a view that it would need replacing with modern vehicles around this time.

The new trucks, which cost about £70,000 each, will improve performance, safety and comfort for the drivers.

Councillor Anne Hawkes-worth said: “If we are happy with these trucks we are going to move forward and replace the whole fleet.

“These new vehicles will allow Bradford Council to improve its winter road maintenance programme.

“Having an efficient fleet of new vehicles will also provide cost savings in the long run.

“We can never predict the kind of winters we are going to experience but with these new vehicles we can be sure we are prepared.”