I HAVE to warn you, dear reader, that what I say next will shock, nay amaze, you.

So those of you of a tender disposition, look away now.

Well done Kirklees Council.

What has our local authority done to deserve such praise?

Did they empty my bins promptly. Well no.

Did they freeze council tax for the coming year. Sorry town hall wallahs, it’s a no again.

But they seem to have done a good job with gritting in the current cold snap.

The council have taken a pounding on the gritting issue over the last couple of years and I’m sure there will be some people for who the appearance of a gritter occurs just slightly more often than a visit from Halley’s Comet.

But I use the roads in Huddersfield at around 7am (including the eminently slippable Netheroyd Hill Road in Fixby) and I’ve had no problems whatsoever.

The surfaces have been fine and you can see where the gritter has been around.

There haven’t been any accidents due to ice (that I’ve seen) and the traffic on the roads is flowing normally.

I know it’s no mean feat to keep Huddersfield moving in the snow so I for one think all the gritter folk deserve a hearty pat on the back.

I have only one request: Keep it up please.