Gritter lorry crashes in village in Ceredigion

Two council workers escaped serious injury when their gritter lorry overturned in wintry conditions in Ceredigion.

The incident happened on Tuesday on the B4343 between Llanddewi-Brefi and Lampeter.

A route was cleared of snow so a crane could be used to move the lorry.

Ceredigion council said the gritter's driver, who was shaken and bruised but otherwise unhurt, later returned to work.

A spokesperson said: "Staff are heroically battling round the clock to keep routes open across Ceredigion.

This vehicle overturned on snow-covered ice whilst it was doing just 20mph Council spokesperson

"All vehicles in our fleet are fitted with GPS systems and emergency panic buttons so that if and when an incident like this occurs staff can call for help and, not only can we immediately identify where exactly the vehicle is in order to dispatch immediate assistance, we can also track exactly what speed the vehicle was doing prior to the incident.

"This vehicle overturned on snow-covered ice whilst it was doing just 20mph.

"That just underlines the very, very grave importance not only of ordinary motorists heeding warnings and not driving on an icy road unless the journey is absolutely necessary, but also that if the journey is necessary then drivers should take very great care."

The gritter has been recovered and will require major repairs before being recommissioned.

The council has now redeployed a lorry to take the place of the overturned gritter.

Meanwhile, a police helicopter is taking food and medical supplies to a family stranded in the snow near Knighton, Powys, for over two weeks.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the family's supplies were running low, but members refused to leave their home because they had race horses to care for.

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