Scarborough beach has become the unlikely hero in the Council’s decision to fight the cold snap by using sand to grit the town’s footpaths.

The decision was taken to solve the grit limitation on Scarborough Borough Council imposed by North Yorkshire County Council, following the national limitation of 25 per cent.

Gabrielle Janzio, Scarborough Borough Council Press Officer said: “We are using sand from South Bay as an alternative measure for the more popular pedestrian footways that North Yorkshire County Council would not let us use grit for, but we felt needed treating.”

Sand is being hand sprinkled by council workers along the main footpaths in the town including Westborough, Ramshill and Falsegrave shopping areas.

The Council applied for a licence with the Environment Agency to regulate the amount of sand they use.

Julie Rogers, Environmental Agency Press Officer, said: “From our viewpoint, this needs to be regulated. The last thing we want is people to go down to the beach with their own wheelbarrows taking sand .That would be disastrous.”

However, local residents are unimpressed with the Council’s handling of the weather, as most residential roads remain un-gritted and grit boxes have stayed empty for weeks.

Simon Gladding, of Moor Lane, said: “Grit is there waiting to be used in Ayton, well it is needed here, it won’t go to waste. There are roads that are so icy and slippery; it could save a lot of accidents.”

For more information, including which roads Scarborough Council are planning on gritting go to www.scarborough.gov.uk