More than 200 delegates attended a special event at JCB dedicated to the needs of local authorities.

Graham Dalton, CEO of the Highways Agency and Mel Ewell, CEO of Amey, headed a VIP list of speakers at the ‘Local Authorities Day’ held at JCB’s World HQ in Rocester, Staffordshire.

Delegates representing dozens of local authorities were also given a working demonstration of more than 15 different machines and a comprehensive range of attachments designed to help local authorities work innovatively.

Among them were a 2CX backhoe with hose reel and hand held tool circuit, a Fastrac tractor fitted with a snowblade, a 4CX backhoe with compactor and 3CX with patch planer and Midi CX backhoe with a hedgecutter.

Also previewed was the new and updated 1CX - the smallest in JCB’s backhoe loader range – which was showcased with a sweeper, a bucket, handheld tool circuit and extended fixed dipper for use in gravedigging applications.

JCB UK and Ireland Sales Director Yvette Henshall-Bell said: “Budgets in all areas are under pressure but none more so than those of the public sector. JCB has a huge range of machines and attachments and by working together we can assist local authorities to work innovatively and therefore even more efficiently.

“JCB's Local Authorities Day helped to demonstrate that in many cases a single machine equipped with the right attachment can fulfil a multitude of different tasks which is not only a more efficient way of working but also helps our customers save money.”