A competition to name 24 council gritters has brought out the creative side of residents in Shropshire – and given two families a chance to honour their late loved ones.
The contest, launched by Shropshire Council at the start of October, received over 500 suggestions for the gritters, with 48 of them making the final shortlist.
But among the imaginative monikers are also poignant tributes, with the names of two boys who both died in the last three years.
Chrissie Woodhouse, 29, lost her son Jack Edwards, in August 2016, after he lost his battle with leukaemia after an intense round of chemotherapy.
The seven-year-olds name was put forward by a stranger who had been touched by her sons story.
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I thought it was a brilliant idea as we all miss Jack so much, Miss Woodhouse told Metro.co.uk.
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Jack, from Cleobury Mortimer, was first diagnosed with leukaemia when he was just three years old.
Since his death, Miss Woodhouse described life as being very dark with an empty space in the family, which includes her three sons Jamie, 10, Zak, seven and three-month-old Reggie.
Jack was beautiful inside and out. He was so kind and thoughtful even in the hardest times of treatment, Miss Woodhouse said.
He was known for his beaming smile and he touched so many people in his seven years, Im so proud he was my son.
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While Im breathing he will always be remembered, but a gritter would be another reminder that his memory lives on.
Georgina Smout, 30, put forward the name of her nephew Charlie Desmond Davies after he died three years ago.
The cheeky and mischievous 15-year-old suffered from muscular dystrophy, a progressive condition that causes the muscles to weaken over time.
He sadly passed away after suffering a fall at home on May 1, 2015.
His family would particularly love for a gritter to be named after Charlie, as his grandfather, who works at the Oswestry depot, will be one of the people driving them.
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Charlie was very popular amongst the pupils there having grown up in Ellesmere, where our family also originates from, Ms Smout said.
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He was well known and loved by a lot of people in our community – he really has left a huge gap in our lives.
We all think it would be fantastic to keep his spirit alive.
She added that Charlies 16-year-old brother, who suffers with muscular dystrophy as well, would also be incredibly proud.
Many of the other names in the contest show how much competitors have enjoyed flexing their pun-making muscles.
Several clever entries referenced famous icons, such as Spready Mercury, Brad Gritt, Usain Salt and Snowel Edmonds.
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Others played on the titles of movies and books, with Harry Potter the Ice Stopper, Grit Expectations and Gritty Gritty Bang Bang.
While favourites in the comments were also Ready Spready Go, Chairman Plough and Grit the road Jack.
Of course, Gritty McGritface also makes an appearance in Group 4.
Voters dont have to live in the Shropshire area, so anyone can enter the poll on the councils website.
The council will be closing the competition on Friday, October 26 at 9am.
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