ALTHOUGH most letters complaining about the non-gritting of roads and pavements during the recent cold spell came from the Blackburn and Darwen area, I can assure Mr F Crompton (Letters, January 15) that people in Hyndburn also suffered in the same way.

Even the main bus routes were not treated. The first time a gritter wagon passed through Great Harwood's main street was Friday, January 5, just before the rain came.

The side roads were like glass and the new Co-op store's car park was untreated and treacherous to walk across.

I agree with Walt Meadows (Letters, January 15) that our councils need to look back at the old efficient services, when the weather forecast was heeded and gritting was done in the evening and even through the night, so there could be no excuses about the gritting wagons being stuck in traffic.

If the councils want to save money by cutting back on these necessary services, why don't they stop increasing the Council Tax each year? We don't see much for our money -- and winter isn't over yet.

MARIAN RUTTER, Grimshaw Street, Great Harwood.