ROAD safety will be "seriously compromised" by a plan to remove a quarter of the roadside grit bins from Lancashire streets, it was claimed today.

Residents and councillors have reacted with fury to the decision. Lancashire County Council said cuts had been made after a review and that gritting routes had been changed to cater for the reductions.

County council figures show the biggest cuts are in Rossendale where 148 of 427 bins (35 per cent) will go.

Pendle is losing 101 (29 per cent), Burnley 26 (21 per cent), Hyndburn 20 (15 per cent) and Ribble Valley seven (nine per cent). The cuts will save the county £47,000.

Pendle. Coun David Whipp said, "This is a drastic and dangerous reduction. Salt bins are essential in hilly places like Pendle.

"They claim to have done an audit but I bet they won't count the broken limbs, or worse. This week's icy weather shows how dangerous it can be. Lancashire's Labour rulers will have blood on their hands."

Rossendale Council leader Duncan Ruddick said the county council was making dangerous cutbacks.

He added: "Removing these bins is going to put people at serious risk."

Hyndburn Council leader Coun Peter Britcliffe said: "I have heard predictions this winter is going to be one of the worst for 20 years.

"I find it unbelievable that Lancashire County Council has even considered removing these grit boxes, it is going to seriously compromise safety on the roads."

A county council spokesman said: "Officers have visited local teams to view roads and taken advice from local traffic engineers before coming up with proposals, which were carried out by an independent assessor.

"The highest consideration was to ensure road safety is not compromised."