REGARDING Mr David Inman's comments on the hazardous driving conditions in Blackburn on January 6, which he blamed on major roads not being gritted (Letters, January 14), my son was driving at a cautious 30mph that evening on the link road just off Whitebirk Roundabout.

Unfortunately, he was not as lucky as Mr Inman as his car skidded on black ice and ended up wrapped round a lamp-post.

It was lucky in the sense that he only had cuts and bruising, but his car, which he had only bought that weekend, was a complete write-off.

Because he is only 20, he only insured his car third party and because no other cars were involved he has to stand the cost of this himself. His insurance cost £1,200, we had to pay £220 to have his car towed away. And, now, to add insult to injury, the council say that we will get a bill for the damage to the lamp-post, plus administration costs.

My son has been left in debt paying off for a car that has been written off and we have been informed that the bill for the lamp-post could run into hundreds of pounds.

We feel that none of the above would have happened if the council had gritted the roads -- even the ambulance which attended that night skidded on the ice. I would appreciate any comments or ideas from readers on how we can proceeds with this.

R BROADLEY, Blackburn Road, West End, Oswaldtwistle.