The new secret weapon against icy pavements

Just in time for the latest blast of freezing weather, a go-anywhere "quad gritter" is being drafted onto London's streets.

Three of the specially adapted £8,000 Kawasakis have been moved into the centre of the city by contractors McNicholas, working for Transport for London.

Each quad is attached to a miniaturised gritting machine with a powerful mechanical spreader. Their task is to whizz along miles of pavement in central London whenever heavy snow is forecast.

Just 1.2 metres wide, each vehicle can carry 500kg of salt and cover miles of pavement overnight - a task normally requiring several teams of men with shovels. "It's the first time anyone has done it this way," a TfL spokesman said.