Streets ahead in Doncaster, ‘Gritsy Bitsy’ shows true grit

A NEW council gritter is to be named Gritsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Antislip Machiney after a public poll attracted more than 40,000 votes.

The naming of Doncaster council’s two new gritting lorries was thrown open to the public on Twitter. The name chosen for the other vehicle was David Plowie.

Gritsy Bitsy, a play on Brian Hyland’s 1959 novelty song Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini, was put forward by Natalie Washington, 34.

“It was incredibly tight,” Ms Washington told the Press Association.

“I think it went ahead early on, then it went back to 50-50. I thought: ‘Is it going to lose?’ But it rallied later on.

“When you go on courses or whatever, and you have to say an interesting fact about yourself, well I’ve got one now. I can say I’ve named a gritter.”

Hundreds of names were sent in to the council before a panel shortlisted 16 names to face the public vote.

A council spokesman said: “We have named gritters before, but we did them with schools. It seems to have cheered Britain up. It’s been amazing and got people interested in gritting.”

Other gritters in the council’s fleet include Brad Grit, Gritney Spears, The Subzero Hero, Mr Plow, and Usain Salt.

‘It seems to have cheered Britain up. It’s been amazing and got people interested in gritting’