VIDEO: Marvellous Matthew overjoyed at gritter triumph

But now, one Littlehampton boy can join the roster of winners of the annual Name a Gritter competition.

Year-six River Beach Primary School pupil Matthew Wilkinson was announced as one of the three winners of the West Sussex-wide competition, with his entry, Freddie Salted.

The stunned ten-year-old was presented with his prize – a big yellow gritter – on Friday (November 28) when it arrived at his school, much to the jubilation of his envious classmates.

Matthew, who is a house captain at River Beach, admitted he had left little to chance, having submitted not one but three names to the county-wide competition, organised by Balfour Beatty.

Speaking of his win, the year-six pupil said: “It’s just amazing. It’s just I never have anything like that happen to me.”

The thrilled youngster even had the chance to sit in the driving seat and beep the horn of the ten-tonne vehicle which will be helping to keep the roads of West Sussex free from ice this winter.

As well as naming the gritter, Matthew also won £20 in vouchers.

After the presentation, Matthew’s classmates were then given a tour of the machine by long-time Balfour Beatty driver, Jason Bailey.

West Sussex County Council’s school travel advisor, Pene Mather, also spoke to the children about the best ways of keeping safe this winter as part of the Be Safe, Be Seen campaign.

She said: “This time of year, the road safety message is really import.

“The gritter is a fabulous way of getting the message to children in a really good way while also showing them that these vehicles are on the road and that children need to make sure they are seen.”

Other winning names included Bitterly Gritterly and Olaf.