A SCHOOLBOY was worth his salt when he beat off competition from other youngsters in a competition to name a gritting lorry.

Seven-year-old Harrison Essam, a pupil at the Kingswood Primary School in Clay Hill Road, Basildon, took part in the countywide competition to name one of Essex County Council’s fleet of gritting lorries.

He came up with the name “Slip”, which will now be emblazoned on one of the lorries.

The pupil also won £20 in book tokens and a certificate.

Over the past two months Year Three primary school children from across the county have been learning about how the gritters keep roads open in cold, icy weather and they have been designing a gritting lorry for the future.