A GRANDMOTHER-of-two is recovering at home after breaking her ankle when she slipped and fell on black ice in Accrington town centre.

Elizabeth Ferris, 64, of Wyresdale Avenue in the town, was involved in the accident during a shopping trip and said Broadway's pavement had not been gritted.

The retired school teacher said it was 'like a skating rink' and a man came to help her up when she noticed that she could not put any weight on her right ankle.

Mrs Ferris had taken her shopping trolley on her trip and used it for support to make her way back to her car.

She said: "I was in absolute agony and this is an area that usually is gritted but was not this time.

"I drove home in so much pain and then my daughter took me to Accrington Victoria.

"They said from the x-ray, my injury was too serious so referred me to Royal Blackburn Hospital.

"I found out there that I would require a plate putting in because of the damage and it would take around six weeks to properly heal.

"This has really affected me because I am very independent and now my entire routine has changed."

Her partner, Martin Cragg, who is self employed, and her daughter have rearranged work and family commitments to cater for her needs.

Mr Cragg is unable to work for the time being and said: "Elizabeth will need rehabilitation and physio to help her ankle heal so I am staying with her to offer her support.

"The town was so icy. I was returning on Friday evening of that snow weekend and I nearly slipped. It's so dangerous.

"One man even bought four bags of grit himself to spread across the area.

"Somebody needs to take responsibility for gritting because it is causing a major problem with these recent weather conditions."

After Mrs Ferris' operation, she was allowed back home on Tuesday.

Tory councillor Tony Dobson said: "It is really disappointing that this happening.

"On the last occasion when it snowed in the town, we had a number of people clearing the pathways and streets in the centre voluntarily.

"We need to organise workers to do a couple hours of overtime during bad weather conditions to prevent further accidents.

"We still have £14million in the bank and you can't blame this on government cuts."

No-one from Hyndburn Council was available to comment yesterday.