WARNINGS are being issued to residents in Blackburn with Darwen about using grit bins more than usual.

Blackburn with Darwen Roads posted on social media saying that highways chiefs are seeing them 'being empty far too early and it could be as a result of overuse'.

A spokesman said: "Please remember that rock salt is a valuable commodity and needs to be used sparingly.

"It only takes a single teaspoon of grit to treat one square metre of footway or road.

"Any more than that and the rock salt is being wasted, and can actually contribute to the deterioration of the road surface.

"Please also be considerate to your neighbours when using grit from the grit bins. Each and every year, we receive reports of grit 'disappearing' overnight, straight after re-filling and not a snowflake in sight - the grit supplies are there to serve the entire street."

The council added that they spend £40k each year on filling the bins.

It added: "We refill more than 400 grit bins across the borough to be used on the public highway in that area during the freezing weather conditions.

"They are there for people to spread on local roads which would become impassable to vehicles in the event of ice or snow.

"We'll be out again over the next few days to refill salt bins, so please take the above advice on board and only use it on the road, and not on your private driveways."