ROAD user in Rossendale this week received some excellent news when the council announced that it had leased high-tech road gritters, complete with their own computers, to place its winter emergency services at the cutting edge of efficiency.

The new machines, which cost £106,000 for a year's lease, arrived at the Henrietta Street depot in Bacup to bolster efforts to keep roads safe.

On-board computers match the road speed to the amount of grit spread from the rear and also match the power with which the salt is spread in relation to the width of the road.

Coun Nick Pilling, chairman of Rossendale Council's development and environmental services committee, said: "These new gritters are the most modern on the road.

"We can set the computer to spread a particular amount of grit per square metre and also key in the width of the road.

"It guarantees that the maximum amount of road is gritted to ensure maximum value for money."

The machines will also be fitted with ploughs at the front and the large salt container can be removed in the spring.

This will enable the lorries to be used as general tipper wagons for most of the year, instead of sitting idle.

Two older wagons previously used for winter service, including one which was 13 years old, have been sold.