Gritter named Den-Ice Law in football legend’s honour

One of Scotland’s greatest ever footballers, an ancient Egyptian queen and a Norse god have all helped inspire names for the gritters which will treat Scottish roads this winter.

Denis Law, who died in January aged 84, was famous for his ice-cold composure in front of goal.

Now his namesake will help lead the line in the battle against wintry weather, because the north of Scotland’s trunk roads agency Amey has added a gritter named Den-Ice Law to its team sheet this winter.

It will also have Clearopathra and Thaw: God of Thunder among its fleet, as well as Shovelly Jubbly, named after the catchphrase of Only Fools and Horses’ Del Boy Trotter. The names were chosen in a public contest.

Adding a festive touch to this year’s gritting programme will be Miracle on 34th Sleet, named after the much-loved Hollywood movie.

Amey said the names added a sense of fun to a serious job.

Its winter service team, which features 40 gritters and 40 snowploughs, as well as eight footpath gritters, and other equipment, will be on standby around the clock to cover 370 miles (593km) of trunk roads and 94 miles (151km) of footpaths.

The gritter naming is one of the more unusual honours given to the only Scottish player to have won the Ballon d’Or.

As well as statues of him in Aberdeen, earlier this year the city unveiled two giant murals of the former Manchester United and Scotland star on a tower block close to his birthplace, which is itself marked with a commemorative plaque.

Amey said a new naming competition – to bring more puns to the roads next winter – would begin next month.