Mine helps tackle salt shortage

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A Teesside mine which normally produces potash for fertiliser has stepped up its production of salt in a bid to help tackle the shortage of grit for roads.

As councils across the UK run short of gritting material to use on snow-hit roads, Cleveland Potash in Saltburn, is spending more time producing salt.

Demand has grown so much that the company is importing 40,000 tonnes of salt from a sister company in Spain.

Councils in the south and Midlands have reported salt and grit shortages.

A spokesman for Cleveland Potash Ltd, said: "We extract potash ore and salt from seams 1km (0.6 miles) underground.

"Since late November we have devoted a higher proportion of operating days to salt mining.

"We have also arranged for the import of 40,000 tonnes of salt from our sister mine in Spain in order to meet the increased demand from our customers all over the UK.

"We hope our efforts keep the country moving through the current cold snap."