'I used to be a make-up artist - now I drive gritters'

Nikki Francis has worked in a variety of jobs, from make-up artist to casino croupier - yet the 56-year-old says becoming Bradford's first female gritter driver is a "dream come true".

She began a HGV driving apprenticeship in her 50s and is now the only woman on Bradford Council's winter roads crew.

Ms Francis even lives in one of the district's highest neighbourhoods, Queensbury, where drivers often struggle in icy conditions.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," she says.

"My uncle used to drive HGVs and he hoisted me up into the cab when I was younger, and that's when the bug hit."

She now drives an 11-tonne gritter truck for six months of the year, working night and day shifts.

Fully loaded with grit salt, the wagons weigh up to 18 tonnes.

There were other women on Ms Francis's training course but she was the only one who completed it and passed with a distinction.

"I'm an oddity at the moment, because I'm the only one. It's something the men need to get used to!

"I want to be out there all the time."

Gritter drivers are deployed in other council roles outside of cold snaps, and Ms Francis is normally a stock control officer for the highways and street lighting team. She joined the authority in 2003 after a varied career that included training as a pub landlord.

The council's gritting fleet includes 24 wagons, five of which have recently been given names by local schoolchildren.

Glittery Ice Machine was named by pupils from Dixons Music Primary School, whereas children from Burley Woodhead Primary School chose the name Grittle Mix and Steeton Primary School selected Gritty Gritty Bang Bang.

Thackley Primary School children chose Clearopathra and Wuthering Ice was the name given by pupils at Co-Op Academy Southfield.

Ms Francis added: "I enjoy it so much and you can work anywhere in the world."

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