Gritters normally used for ridding the roads of snow are being used in Somerset to stop the tarmac melting. The county council's highways team has been treating roads around Cheddar, Wedmore and East Huntspill to stop them being damaged in extreme heat. S

Gritters normally used for ridding the roads of snow are being used in Somerset to stop the tarmac melting.The county council's highways team has been treating roads around Cheddar, Wedmore and East Huntspill to stop them being damaged in extreme heat.Sand and grit has been put onto country roads where tarmac has heated up to prevent further damage.Sedgemoor district councillor Jeff Savage said he hoped work would be carried out after the heatwave to repair the roads.He said: "I went through Cheddar and it's noticeable where large vehicles have scuffed the surface of the road."I hope the remedial work will be carried out after the heat because there's a huge increase in traffic in Cheddar during the summer because of tourism.