Drivers could see their journeys interrupted by winter gritters this week as Britons embrace the hottest day of the year so far.
As temperatures soar to 34C today, a council has taken the rare step of deploying gritters, despite the vehicles typically being associated with snow and ice in the winter.
Central Bedfordshire Council took to Facebook to explain why the vehicles were being deployed.
The council confirmed the unusual summer operation was necessary to protect roads during extreme weather conditions.
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Gritters have been deployed across the UK to deal with melting roads
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The vehicles are spreading crushed stone onto road surfaces to prevent damage as tarmac begins to soften when surface temperatures exceed 50C.
The crushed stone layer helps prevent surface damage whilst providing additional grip for vehicles.
Central Bedfordshire Council said: "Some parts of Central Bedfordshire are experiencing very high road surface temperatures.
"When this happens, tarmac can begin to soften, which may lead to surface damage. To prevent this, we're sending out gritters to spread a fine layer of crushed stone."
Gritters help prevent the surface of the road from being damaged further
CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL
Acknowledging the unusual sight, the authority noted: "You might not expect to see gritters in summer, but it's an important part of looking after our roads during extreme weather conditions."
The Road Surface Treatments Association confirmed that asphalt surfaces can begin to melt when temperatures reach 50C.
This threshold can be reached even when air temperatures drop to 20C at day's end, as road surfaces absorb heat during peak sunshine hours.
Forecasters have warned that prolonged sun exposure could push road surface temperatures beyond 50C during the current heatwave.
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Commenters on Facebook poked fun at the bizarre announcement, including suggesting that the roads will "melt into the potholes".
Another said: "As long as they don’t drive too fast when grit-spreading (naturally those chipped windscreens)."
A second commenter claimed: "[I] see gritters out in Spain and Portugal all the time. I'm surprised we can get hold of any gritters as they're normally all in demand in Dubai."
Others claimed that they had seen council workers filling in potholes, questioning how long the repairs would last.
Millions of drivers around the UK are enjoying the warm weather on the hottest day of the year so far
PA
June was recorded as the hottest month on record in East Anglia, with the region now experiencing some of the highest temperatures in the nationwide heatwave.
East Malling in Kent has recorded a temperature of 33.5C, officially making today the hottest day of the year so far.
Previous forecasts from the Met Office stated that highs of 34C would be seen today, while there was a low chance of 35C.
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