IN reply to S Hamer (Letters, January 17), I never criticised the council workmen, as I have no doubt they do a good job.

I stated that the council itself came up with excuses for failing to grit roads, apart from main ones -- one being that there wasn't the volume of traffic to scatter the grit around as it was a holiday period.

As for me getting up at 3am to do the job, I do pay council tax; but all I get for it is my bin emptied.

A REID (Mrs), Elgar Close, Blackburn.