RESIDENTS battled to keep their streets clear as around 10cm of snow fell across East Lancashire yesterday.

Council gritters targeted the main routes, while neighbours teamed up to shovel snow off their driveways and paths.

Despite the hardwork, the majority of people said that they believed clearing snow should be a combined effort.

But there were some complaints that bus routes had not been gritted enough.

Among those helping out in their neighbourhoods was George Bentley, of Glen Shiels Avenue, Darwen.

The 69-year-old said: “I was clearing snow for about two hours and I did next door’s drive as well.

“But if the council did our road, they would have to do everyone’s and it is more important they do bus routes and school routes.

Paul Bradley, a self employed painter and decorator from Radford Street, Darwen, said he had lost a day’s work because he could not get his vehicle out of the street.

The 29-year-old said: “The snow picked up and I could not get out at the bottom.

“We always try to grit out the front and help our elderly neighbours.

“But the kids love it and I am glad the schools are off because it saves on the traffic.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council operates a system whereby primary routes, such as major roads, are gritted as a priority before secondary routes are salted.

Council Dave Harling, executive member for regeneration at the authority, said there were 400 grit bins across the area, which were strategically placed.

He said: “So far it has gone well and we have been fortunate compared to other parts of the country.

“We have four primary routes with one gritter on each.

“When we have done that, we will go onto the secondary routes.”

Christine Atkinson, 61, from Mansfield Grove, Brierfield, said that because the streets near her house had not been gritted, many residents were feeling ‘stuck’.

She said: “No gritters are coming round Mansfield Grove. Half of the road is bungalows where either disabled or OAPs live.

“It is a bus route and they’re not coming on.

“We’re stuck. We can’t get out. We haven’t seen any gritters for a while, they came round a few days ago.

“They gritted it for the ice, which was brilliant as the buses could come round. But nothing has happened at all this week.

“They miss us out every time. There are 20 people who live here.”

And Francis Gaughan, of Bank Parade Burnley, said: “I live on a bus route and I have only seen the griiters once.

“Cars have been flying all over, but the council has been trying its best.”

Lancashire County Council is responsible for looking after around 4,000 miles of road, 1,500 of which are on priority routes and are gritted as soon as icy weather is forecast.

There are 1,800 grit bins in the county, around 400 of which are in Pendle alone.

Duncan Reeve, public realm manager area east for Lancashire County Council, said: “It has gone quite smoothly.

“We had a considerable depth of snow in the Pennine district.”