EAST Lancashire residents are being urged to report roads that need to be gritted.

The relaunch of the Lancashire Telegraph Grit Watch campaign comes as wintry conditions were predicted for the area.

And we want you to let us know about ungritted roads, empty salt bins or treacherous pathways.

A yellow warning for rain is in place today (FRI) and temperatures are predicted to drop as low as 0C.

Councils said they were well-prepared to deal with the icy conditions, and any that happen over Christmas, and that roads had been gritted last night (THURS NIGHT).

Oliver Starkey, highways manager at Lancashire County Council, which is also responsible for salting junctions 10 to 14 of the M65, said: "We were expecting heavy showers with a mixture of hail, sleet and snow, and the possibility of a longer spell of snow with some accumulations over higher ground last night.

"We kept a close eye on how the weather developed overnight and gritted as needed, with our drivers being kept available to patrol throughout the night.

"Road temperatures were forecast to freeze, particularly as the skies cleared.

"At the same time, there was an increased risk of black ice during such changeable conditions.

“I would ask drivers to be extra careful this morning.

“Just because a road has been gritted it may not be clear of ice."

Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “After the last few years, we have made sure that we are prepared in good time in case the weather takes a turn for the worst.”

Junctions one to 10 of the M65 are the responsiblity of the Highways Agency, which said it was keeping an eye on the forecast.

Tomorrow, the forecast is for more heavy rain during the early hours, with temperatures reaching a maximum of around 8C.

However it will feel much colder, with gusts of up to 50mph.

To get involved, send a text to 80360, starting your message with LT, email lt_editorial@nqnw.co.uk, call 01254 298217, visit facebook.com./lancashiretelegraph or Tweet @lancstelegraph using the hashtag #LTGrit