THE county council has been slammed by residents for failing to stock up grit bins before last week’s big freeze.

Councillor Miles Parkinson is one of a number of Hyndburn residents who is unconvinced that Lancashire County Council (LCC) spent enough time gritting minor roads during the cold snap.

And he believes many salt bins were left empty.

The borough councillor for Altham said: "I am worried there isn’t going to be enough grit if this weather continues and that the bins aren’t being filled. It is no good saying there are going to be extra grit bins if we are not going to put grit in them. It’s a deep concern because a lot of people in sheltered housing across the borough haven’t been out of their houses much, if at all, during the bad weather."

Carol Simpson, from Clayton-le-Moors, said: "The main Whalley Road past Harwood Bar and on past Checcos as far as Whalley is treacherous. How can the county council say they have been gritting the roads?  The traffic at times travelled at 10 mph and many turned around. I have not seen a gritter out at all, yet they apparently gritted Sawley Drive, a side road."

Lancashire County Council said gritters in Hyndburn did their best to grit the roads and keep main routes open.

"The list of priority routes which are salted first include all main A and B roads, part of the M65 and a number of other busy main roads vital to keeping traffic moving," said a council spokesman.

"These roads are tackled as a matter of urgency before other less busy routes are considered. While staff are doing this, salting of secondary routes and grit bin filling has been suspended. This is standard procedure and ensures we are able to keep main routes clear."

Councillor Parkinson added: "It leaves people in quieter areas in danger of slipping or crashing their cars. I’m concerned because the council said it would do more gritting after what happened last year."