RESIDENTS have thanked a building firm which donated 750kgs of salt to clear pavements in their village.

Many elderly residents in Guide, Blackburn, have been unable to leave their homes due to snow and ice.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has gritted the main roads in the village but the surrounding streets have been impossible for residents to walk or drive around.

But bosses at nearby in Ensor Building Products, Blackmoor Road, have come to the rescue.

Ensor boss Philip Brooke first noticed that one elderly resident was unable to leave home as the front of her property had iced over.

Mr Brooke gave 71-year-old Elizabeth Gregory a bag of salt to enable her to leave her home safely.

Later on Elizabeth received an email from company. The email said Ensor would give 30 bags of 25kgs worth of salt to others in need.

Then at 11 o'clock today Elizabeth collected 30 bags in her car and with the help of two youngsters, Paul Crompton and Alex Curran, they cleared the village.

Between them they gritted around the homes of 30 elderly people and other vulnerable people.

Elizabeth said: "Ensor need a big thank you. Many residents have been unable to leave their homes since the heavy snow fall.

"We've been shovelling the snow and putting down the salt at as many homes as possible.

"It's harder than it looks. If everybody had pulled together like Ensor did, it would be a good country to live in when conditions get like this."

Philip Brooke, managing director of Ensor Building Products, said: "This is one of those times when the Great British public has to pull together.

"This is one of those times to extend generosity to the community. They have done things for us in the past.

"It is a small gesture which we hope will enable residents to get around."