The Aberdeenshire boy who swapped the classroom for a gritter lorry

Teenager Jamie Monaghan has been working day and night on his dad’s gritter lorry during Scotland’s big freeze – and loves it so much he doesn’t want to go back to school.

The 13-year-old was due back in the classroom last Monday after the festive holidays, only for the severe weather to force his school and hundreds of others to close.

Instead, he has spent the past week clearing roads and towing cars out of snow drifts around Aberdeen.

And Jamie, of Pitmedden, Aberdeenshire, has got such a kick from helping others that he wants to do it full time.

He said: “I’m not a big fan of school. I wish I could be with dad all week.

“Me and dad saved someone yesterday in Aberdeen – we pulled them out in their car on a bad hill.

“They were fair chuffed. They were thanking us and offering us money but we were saying, it’s fine, we were passing anyway.

“It’s a great feeling, just watching their reaction. They’re so happy and smiling.”

His dad Paul’s regular work involves clearing oil company sites around Aberdeen.

But he has been answering pleas for help around the clock – and Jamie has been delighted to jump out of bed to help.

He said: “It’s more of a struggle to wake up for school. For this, I just set my alarm for half two or three and it’s fine.”

Jamie insists he isn’t jealous of his friends who have been enjoying their enforced week off school playing computer games.

He said: “My pals are at home on their Playstations and Xboxes and do a bit of sledging on the hills, which is fine.

“But I can play for an hour or two and then get bored and feel lazy, sitting in the house doing nothing.

“It’s better to be out here.”