The county's largest local authority has partnered with kmfm to raise awareness on the important work of gritting crews.

Those living in the county were invited to submit names for one of Kent County Council’s (KCC) fleet vehicles for a Name a Gritter competition.

In January it was announced the truck would be called Grittersaurus Rex – a submission made by Katie Charlier from Dover.

The name garnered almost 400 votes after listeners were asked to choose between five finalists.

The other suggested names were Luke Grittler, Orlando Blooming Cold, Claudia Sprinkleman and Ctrl-Salt-Delete.

Grittersaurus Rex is one of a 60-strong fleet making sure Kent’s roads are safe for the travelling public in the colder months.

The winter service, which runs from October 18 until April 18, has faced a number of challenges throughout the period due to severe weather conditions.

Storms Ashley, Bert, Conall and Darragh saw KCC Highways dealing with an additional 1000 out-of-hours inquiries related to fallen trees, drainage issues, and other weather-related incidents.

So far this season, gritting crews have been called out 34 times, using 7,708 tonnes of salt.

Neil Baker, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We are incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work of our winter service teams who have faced numerous challenges this season.

“Their efforts have ensured that our roads remain safe and accessible despite severe weather conditions.

"As the weather warms up, the crews now switch their focus to maintaining our roads.

“I know they appreciate the support they get while gritting the roads and I hope they get the same thanks and respect for all aspects of their work, which is all aimed at keeping Kent moving and our communities connected, in all weather conditions."

Ben Pearce, host of kmfm's Getting You Home, added: “kmfm is proud to celebrate the winter heroes who keep our roads safe.

“Seeing the name on a gritter that will play a vital role in winter road safety has been a highlight of the year already. We can’t wait to see Grittersaurus Rex in action!"