A HIGHWAYS boss today admitted that gritting lorries were slow off the mark when Lancashire was gripped by icy weather because some of the drivers were sick.

The admission came as Blackburn with Darwen Council blamed problems with the county council operation for causing some of the problems in the borough.

And a disappointed priest urged his parishioners to complain to council bosses after the icy gridlock which gripped East Lancashire prevented people turning up for a service.

Snow and freezing temperatures caused problems throughout the county at the weekend, with many roads left untreated and Traffic making its way back from Blackburn Rovers' home defeat by Derby being struck behind gritting lorries.

But companies also complained that they were unable to run services because of the conditions.

Now Blackburn with Darwen Council has said Lancashire County Council's failure to grit some of the main roads into the borough triggered a string of problems in the area -- which is gritted by four vehicles owned by the unitary authority.

Coun Nora Ward, in charge of highways at Lancashire County Council, said she would be investigating which roads had been gritted and what, if anything, had gone wrong.

But she added: "We did everything we could over the weekend. Our gritters were out all over the weekend and yesterday from 4am but sickness could have been a problem and affected the number of vehicles we had out on the road. Even when roads have been gritted drivers have to remember it isn't safe for them to go along at 60mph."

Canon Jude Harrison, of St Alban's Church in Larkhill, urged his congregation during Sunday morning's service to complain to the council.

He said: "Many people just couldn't get here. The roads were a disgrace and covered in ice. Even the main orbital route was covered in ice.

"The council is forever going on about health and safety but they haven't done enough to the roads. Many of the congregation said they were scared to drive home. Buses were skidding across the road. I have urged them to complain. I will."

Coun Ashley Whalley, whose regeneration portfolio includes highways maintenance, said the gritters remained out in force until 7am on Sunday and then returned to the streets on Sunday evening and Monday, re-gritting areas which had frozen after being treated.

He said: "As far as I am aware, apart from Saturday, everything has worked to plan and people have been able to drive along the main roads.

"People seem to be under the misapprehension that the gritters go out to get rid of all the ice. They are not like continental snow movers.

"The grit is put down to create friction so cars can continue going along roads. The salt is spread to help melt the snow and ice to create at least one lane for traffic to travel along. As more salt is put down, more ice does clear, but it is not intended to move all the ice.

"We have had problems in that Lancashire County Council do not seem to have gritted their roads, especially near to the borough boundary.

"There was one problem on their road which caused tailbacks into the borough but as far as I am concerned, we have done all that we can."

The council gives priority to routes used by the emergency services, then main roads, and then bus routes.

Coun Whalley added: "It has never been our policy to grit all roads. The only priority roads left out will be the ones we couldn't access, normally because cars have been abandoned."

Traffic manager at Darwen Coach Services, Tim Paley, said all 17 of their buses had to be kept off the road yesterday.

He said: "The road outside is like an ice skating rink. I cannot believe they have gritted the roads. Looking at our bus routes, they haven't been touched.

"It has caused real problems. We can't risk lives."

Michael Morton, managing director of Blackburn Transport, said: "Most of our buses have got out but there have been problems with the roads on estates.

"We have seen gritters out and about but some of the smaller roads are out of bounds to us."