WITH forecasters predicting another severe winter volunteers are being drafted in to grit Blackburn's streets.

Nicknamed Winter Squads, they will be made up of teams of residents who are being trained by Blackburn Council to grit and clear snow from their areas.

The three squads from the East Rural, Corporation Park and Roe Lee neighbourhoods, will be fully equipped and out in force in the town during cold snaps.

Council chiefs said the teams are made up of people who came forward and said they wanted to do more to help their communities during wintery spells.

Due to lack of resources the pathways targeted by the residents' teams are not usually gritted as part of the council’s usual winter programme.

Councillor Mohammed Khan, executive member for Adult Social care, said: “There is a lot of community spirit in Blackburn with Darwen and the winter squads are fine examples of that.

“Let’s follow their example and all be good neighbours during winter and think about others over the holiday period.”

The squads will also target pavements outside their local community venues as well as steep and hazardous streets.

And they will receive the latest weather reports and gritting action through the council’s BWD winter Facebook group.

The Facebook group, which has almost 1,000 members and was viewed 350,000 times last year, provides updates on bad weather, school closures, disruptions to bus services and all other winter weather related incidents.

In addition, they will be expected to check on elderly and vulnerable people during bad weather making sure they are safe. They will also have to ensure that they have enough supplies including food and medicine to last until the weather improves.

Coun Khan said: “It is really important over the winter months that everyone looks out for each other.

"I would urge everyone to take time out to just make sure their neighbours are okay, safe and well especially older vulnerable people."

If the pilot scheme is successful, the council is hoping to extend it throughout the borough next summer in preparation for the following winter.