MOUNTAINS of salt produced by a Runcorn chemical plant for Germany is helping to de-frost Britain’s frozen roads.

A fleet of 600 trucks is collecting 12,000 tonnes of road salt from Ineos.

It was destined for chemical production at its sister company in Wilhelmshaven.

Harry Deans, Ineos chief executive, said: “Ineos is aware of the salt shortages in the UK and the problems it is causing.

“12,000 tonnes of salt will not solve the de-icing problem but it should make a difference in the places most severely affected.”

Truckloads of salt are being distributed to snowbound towns as far afield as Scotland, Pembroke, Gloucester, Bradford and the south coast.

Ineos, Britain’s biggest private company and the world’s third largest chemical company, has increased its salt production to maximum capacity.

It is now producing a further 3,000 tonnes of road salt as well as introducing a grade of white pavement salt to help prevent pedestrians slipping on snow and ice.

Mr Deans added: “There is no doubt that the severity of this winter took everyone by surprise.

“It has raised questions about both the size of the UK’s rock salt reserve and the need to salt pavements.

“Ineos is more than willing to play its part in addressing both these issues.”

The German company has sourced a different grade of salt from its own country for the production of chlorine and foodstuffs.