A COUNCILLOR has called for urgent action to stop water leaks that have turned a busy road into an "ice rink".

Coun Dave Hollings issued warnings in September that a burst pipe was leaking water down James Street West and Reservoir Street, Darwen, near the town's health centre.

He warned that the area would turn into a mini ice rink if it wasn't dealt with and is frustrated that the problem has not been solved months down the line.

Work has been carried out in a bid to fix the problem but it has returned, and residents say the stretch of road is "an accident waiting to happen".

Coun Hollings said: "It is a real problem there. Water is going down the road and in the weather we're having now it just freezes quickly.

"At the moment it isn't even defrosting during the day, the street is very steep and there is a lot of concern from people who use those roads."

Sue Shakleton, of Reservoir Street, said the road was becoming more and more dangerous She said: "When I leave for work early in the morning I nearly have to drive on the opposite pavement to avoid the ice.

"I witnessed a near miss recently by a taxi. It was not speeding, but it skidded sideways." Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: "Someone's going to come a cropper on that road.

"They come screeching one way and screeching another, then they have to come to a swift halt.

"It's icy down there and we've been asking for something to be done for months."

The water is believed to be coming from a burst pipe at an empty house in Reservoir Street.

United Utilities does not own the pipe which has burst but said it was working hard to ensure that any problems in the area were resolved.

The company said it could fix the problem and bill the pipe owner if nothing was done.