A FIRM has come up with an innovative idea to get the most out of it’s machinery this winter.

The compact yellow pothole fixing machine known as the Multihog will be taking to the streets of Blackburn with Darwen to help the council grit the borough’s roads.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Multihog UK Ltd, based off Charles Street in Darwen, has fitted a rear gritter to it’s specialist device so it can grit the roads as well as repair them.

A spokesman for the firm said: “The Multihog’s compact build and low centre of gravity allow it to successfully tackle rural areas where conventional gritter units cannot access.

"This means areas which would suffer greatest from the adverse conditions can be addressed. This helpful gesture contributes to the reduction of disruption to traffic and local businesses and subsequently benefits the local economy and maintaining public satisfaction.”

Marketing manager Josh Sweeney added: “We have done this sort of thing before for our council. We want to see them get maximum use out of the machine so we are more than happy to help when we can. We see our relationship as a partnership really.

“As the Multihog left the yard on Friday it still had the road planer attachment on the front because the gritter fits on the rear.

“They normally keep the unit very busy for their pothole repair operations when we have more kinder weather within the borough.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s roads maintenance boss, Cllr Jim Smith, said: “It was extremely nice of them. The equipment is really good equipment too.

“It helped us out and made a real difference and I would like to thank Multihog.”

Multihog was previously given a £9,000 grant from the council as part of its Assistance to Industry programme.

The company relocated to a much larger site to assist their business expansion and needs assistance to purchase a workshop ramp, racking and a plant trailer.

Assistance to Industry grants are delivered on behalf of the council by Regenerate Pennine Lancashire. They are awarded to companies to help them expand and are related in part to the number of jobs being created.

Multihog UK Ltd is a young business established in 2010 and the current directors, Nick Carter and Nick Leadley, have experience of sales and marketing of plant and capital equipment and saw an opportunity to import a new multi-purpose implement carrying vehicle, the Multihog, which was being developed and manufactured in Southern Ireland.

The Multihog base unit itself has the appearance of a road legal compact tractor which is articulated and hydraulically operated, accepting a diverse range of different attachments to the front and rear allowing for effective and efficient all-seasonal utilisation.