ON Monday, February 3, on the eve of her 20th birthday, my daughter was stranded on the M66 between Bury and Ramsbottom.

She had left her office in Manchester at 6pm when, just after the Bury exit, traffic suddenly came to a halt.

She had no idea what was going on. She was cold and wanted to use the toilet. She was angry and as well as feeling hungry, she was quite scared.

She locked herself in the car and just waited and waited. She rang us at about 7.30pm to let us know where she was. But we were helpless to go to her aid.

She eventually reached Rawtenstall at 11.30pm. I suppose we should be grateful. At least, she did get home and wasn't in any accident.

I don't know what the solution could be for our roads and motorways apart from a three-month holiday from work from January until April.

MARLENE WILKINSON, Elm Street, Rawtenstall.