THE icy blast certainly caught many by surprise - not least motorists. But it was nothing compared to the frosty reception afforded to the council after it was accused of being slow out of the ice-blocks with its army of gritters.
Coun Ashley Whalley, the man in charge of the Blackburn with Darwen Council gritters, however, said his men were on top of the problem.
Coun Whalley, whose regeneration portfolio includes highways maintenance, said gritters were out in force over the weekend and remained on the roads on Sunday evening and Monday, going over the areas that had already been treated.
Although he did admit to being caught out at the start of the weekend, when traffic making its way back from the Blackburn Rovers' game against Derby at Ewood Park, becoming struck behind gritting lorries.
He said: "As far as I am aware, apart from that Saturday, everything worked to plan and people were able to drive along the main roads.
"People seem to be under the misapprehension that the gritters go out to get rid of all the ice.
"They are not like continental snow movers.
"The grit is put down to create friction so cars can continue going along roads.
"The salt is spread to help melt the snow and ice to create at least one lane for traffic to travel along.
"As more salt is put down, more ice does clear, but it is not intended to move all the ice."
Coun Whalley ventured to suggest that Lancashire County Council may have added to the problems encountered by drivers.
But County Councillor Nora Ward defended her team.
Coun Whalley said: "We have had problems in that Lancashire County Council do not seem to have gritted their roads, especially near to the borough boundary.
"There was one problem on their road which caused tailbacks into the borough but as far as I am concerned, we have done all that we can."
Coun Ward, in charge of highways at Lancashire County Council, hit back with: "We did everything we could over the weekend.
"Our gritters were out all over the weekend and on Monday from 4am.
"Staff sickness could have been a problem and affected the number of vehicles we had out on the road.
"Even when the roads have been gritted drivers have to remember that it isn't safe for them to travel along at 60mph."
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