Rock salt is commonly made up of salt, which helps to increase the freezing temperature of water to make it less likely to form ice, and grit or clay, which helps to provide traction for vehicles.

Weather Find grit bins and gritting routes near you - and where to get free rock salt Find the location of thousands of residential grit bins across Scotland to help clear roads and public pathways.

I spoke to de-icing experts about the crucial differences between ice melt and rock salt and discovered which is the right option for specific yards.

Quickly find the location of thousands of residential grit bins across Scotland to help clear roads and public pathways.

With heavy snow falls all week, supplies of the rock salt are running low. Where does the salt scattered by gritters come from? Forget all those notions about political dissidents with pickaxes. From ...

The Welsh Government, which subcontracts motorway and trunk road gritting to councils, said it spent on average £5.4m on rock salt and its delivery in the past five years.

A Meath County Councillor has been taking grit without permission from a council depot and distributing it in his own electoral area for use during the current cold snap. Fine Gael Cllr Paddy ...

Gritting lorries have been out in force overnight to make the main roads safe for drivers. But it's not just a case of throwing salt over the streets. As a blanket of snow fell on eastern and southern ...

How does gritting de-ice roads? The rock salt within the grit works to lower the freezing point of water, so that ice doesn’t form as quickly on roads and pathways.

Rock salt also corrodes concrete, makes its way into the groundwater, and is bad for pets. Worst of all, its efficacy drops along with the temperature.

“We urge pet-owners to be cautious when grit is being spread on roads, as rock salt can be toxic to dogs and cats if they lick it from their paws or fur,” a spokesperson told The Independent.

The salt helps to stop water from freezing on the roads, making travel safer for motorists – but could prove deadly for animals ...