Guy Owen

Gritters across the county were blessed by the Bishop of Grimsby earlier today, to say thank you for the job they do over winter.

Forty three gritters will be scattering salt and ensuring Lincolnshire roads are safe during the cold weather.

The fleet includes the four biggest snow ploughs in the country, dubbed The Beast’.

Altogether the county has 35,000 tons of salt to use on its highways.

At the Sturton-by-Stow depot earlier today (November 22), the Bishop of Grimsby Reverent David Court paid his thanks to the workers. He added their job is often seen as ‘underappreciated’.

There are six gritters at the Sturton depot, all costing around £125,000, with the rest of the vehicles situated across the county.

Bishop for of Grimsby Reverend David Court told The Lincolnite: “It’s an opportunity for us to say thank you to the people who work behind the scenes to keep our roads safe and an opportunity for us to pray and ask for God’s blessing on all of the work they do.

“It’s vital what they do, I am aware that our roads are not always as safe as they could be and people don’t always drive as safe as they could, so anything which takes place to prevent accidents, to ensure that we are driving safely, has to be a good thing.”

Richard Wills, Executive Director for the Environment and the Economy at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “This is an important part for our staff and it shows people in Lincolnshire are pleased with what we do, and it’s very good having the bishop here today giving his blessing to us.”

An early Sam Szmodics goal condemned Lincoln City to back-to-back defeats as The Imps lost 1-0 to Colchester United.

Nathan Arnold hit the bar before Ollie Palmer failed to convert the rebound as The Imps suffered their first Tuesday night defeat in the league this season.

Lincoln made three changes to their team that lost 2-1 to Coventry on Saturday with Billy Knott, Elliott Whitehouse and Palmer replacing Matt Green, Matt Rhead and the injured Michael Bostwick.

Colchester took in the first attack of the game when Drey Wright’s through ball split The Imps’ defence and found Szmodics who slotted his shot past Josh Vickers.

The hosts almost doubled their lead a few minutes later when Ryan Jackson found Mikael Mandron in the box, but Sean Long put in a fantastic tackle to deny the striker.

Arnold hit the bar for Lincoln from a direct free-kick before Palmer failed to turn in the rebound with Kane Vincent-Young doing enough to put off The Imps’ striker.

Green and Rhead were introduced at half time, however Lincoln failed to create too many clear opportunities.

Szmodics was denied a second goal of the evening when he was adjudged offside when he turned in Vickers’ save from Tom Lapsile’s long-range effort.

Lincoln pushed for an equaliser but The U’s stood firm and their three-man back line of Tom Eastman, Frankie Kent and Ryan Innis nullified the majority of The Imps’ chances.

Danny Cowley’s men will host Port Vale, who lost 4-0 at home to Mansfield Town this evening, on Saturday at Sincil Bank.

Colchester United: Walker; Eastman, Kent, Innis; Jackson, Loft (Comley 37), Lapsile, Vincent-Young; Szmodics (Reid), Mandron (Hanlan), Wright

Subs not used: Gilmartin (GK), Kinsella, Slater, Odelusi

Lincoln City: Vickers; Long, Dickie, Raggett, Eardley; Anderson, Knott (Green 46), Woodyard, Arnold (Stewart 63); Whitehouse; Palmer (Rhead 46)

Subs not used: Farman (GK), Waterfall, Ginnelly, Habergham

Attendance: 3,102 (475 Imps)

The Lincolnite Man of the Match: Sam Szmodics