Milnathort Primary pupil Rosie White, centre, is on the road to success after winning a competition to rename a gritter, with For Your Ice Only coming out on top.

School embraces competition after pupils learn about Transport Scotland’s interactive map

A Kinross-shire primary school pupil has seen her imaginative name for a gritter hit the road.

Pupils at Milnathort Primary School in Kinross had the opportunity to rename a 32-tonne gritter that will treat local streets this winter.

A huge number of names were entered into the competition, with primary two pupil Rosie White coming out on top.

Rosie came up with the winning name, For Your Ice Only, a play on the James Bond classic, For Your Eyes Only.

The eight-wheel vehicle will now join a host of other pun-tastic gritters on the streets of Scotland, including, Sir Andy Flurry, Gritty Gritty Bang Bang, Plougher O’ Scotland and Sir Grits-a-lot.

The school became engaged in the competition after pupils began using Transport Scotland’s interactive map to learn about the weather, gritters and maps.

The map highlights the location of winter vehicles across Scotland and gives pupils the chance to learn more about where Milnathort is on a map.

Sandra McColgan, head teacher at Milnathort Primary School, said: “Primary ones and twos were beginning to look at maps and be able to recognise where Milnathort was, as well as discuss the weather from the interactive gritter map.

“The added bonus of the gritter name hooked the pupils.

“We were delighted when BEAR Scotland started to notice our enthusiasm for the map and their fleet of gritters and were thrilled to be chosen to name one of their vehicles.

“We will be following the interactive map even closer this year, now that we have a personal interest.”

Alasdair Allen, senior operations manager for BEAR north east, said: “We were so impressed with the interest in our winter service shown by Milnathort Primary School and we are delighted to unveil the brilliantly named For Your Ice Only.

“The pupils came up with some excellent suggestions for the vehicle after learning about how the gritters work to keep roads safe across Scotland during winter.

“It’s great to see them so engaged with the online gritter tracker map and they will be able to spot For Your Ice Only out treating the M90 when the weather is colder.”

BEAR Scotland’s winter service officially began on Monday, with teams now on standby throughout Perth and Kinross until the end of the winter.

The team will monitor situations across the area to help with the colder weather.

We will be following the interactive map even closer this year, now that we have a personal interest. SANDRA MCCOLGAN, MILNATHORT PRIMARY SCHOOL HEAD TEACHER

Competition winner Rosie White with fellow pupils at Milnathort Primary School in Kinross.