IT happens every year and yet, unlike countries such as Norway and Sweden, every winter we always seem to get "caught out".

Yesterday's teatime snowfall and the temperature reduction that usually comes with darkness combined to produce sheet ice and traffic gridlock over large parts of East Lancashire.

The snowfall wasn't large compared with those which routinely blanket other nations - where they deal with them without transport and public services grinding to a halt.

But why is it that a mere inch or so of snow seems to come as a surprise to our highways authorities?

They tell us they were out gritting "all day". But motorists and other travellers will consider it evident that the road squads, however hard they worked, were responding to the weather when they should have anticipated it sooner.

Even an amateur meteorologist could have told them snow was likely.

But, no, it was the old story of 'too little too late'.

According to Blackburn regeneration supremo Coun Andy Kay, delays were more to do with drivers taking it easy. They would tell him they had no choice because many main roads were ice rinks.

People are fed up with excuses. They want to know why we cannot cope with an inch or two of snow. Let's get it sorted.