A NEW environmentally-friendly grit being used on icy roads around Bromyard is proving popular - with sheep.

The special grit is coated with molasses and the sheep have been spotted licking it as a tasty treat.

Bromyard is the first town in Herefordshire to try the grit, which has a chemical composition that is designed to stop the salts in it from dissolving.

Normal, untreated grit, causes damage to Bromyard's sandstone buildings, the salts dissolving the stone.

"Treating the salt with molasses sounds a bit odd but it's a specially developed chemical process and cuts down the rate at which the salt dissolves," said mayor Jill Churchill.

She said the town council was very pleased that Bromyard had been chosen to try out the grit.

"For the past three years we've complained to Herefordshire Council about the damage caused to stone buildings by road gritting," said Mrs Churchill.

Recent icy weather has seen the grit being used around Bromyard for the first time.

"The sheep seem to love it. It does have a sweet smell," said Mrs Churchill.

The molasses-treated grit is three times more expensive than the conventional, untreated grit, but is seen to be cost-effective as it lasts longer . . . or it did until the sheep started licking it.