ONE of my sons is a gritter in Blackburn and Darwen and he finished work on Christmas Eve but was on call from Friday December 28 at 4.30pm to Sunday December 30 at 4.30pm. It is voluntary even though they get paid.

He was out gritting from 4pm to 8.30pm on the Friday. On the Saturday he got a phone call at 2.10am and he was in the yard at 2.30am. He gritted until 9.30am. He went home and got called out again at 10.30am and was out until 3pm.

Then, he was called in at 11pm until 7.30am on Sunday.

Maximum salt was used on all routes at all times.

His route covered Lower Darwen, Livesey Branch Road and going to the Blackburn-Chorley boundary on Preston Old Road, coming back over Brokenstones Road to Lower Darwen.

He then refilled his load and did large parts of Darwen before refilling again and going over to Edgworth. He was called back to any bad spots of ice and snow on his routes from 10.30pm till 3pm.

Gritting is paid at time and a half.

So who calls my son out at 2.10am in the morning? His boss? or does someone call his boss up to give him permission to call the gritters out?

My son takes the jibes at the gritters personally because he does his best for the council and people of the area. Would you like to get out of bed at 2.10am?

I wouldn't be surprised if there were no men volunteering for gritting next winter.

M WALMSLEY, Moss Street, Blackburn.