A WORCESTER-based businesswoman is demanding more gritting lorries on the county's roads after treacherous weather conditions brought the company she helps run to a standstill.

Carol Smith claimed yesterday's ice and snow prevented trucks from leaving the company's premises on the Shrub Hill Industrial Estate because gritting lorries had not been on to it.

Mrs Smith - whose husband James and his business partner own Duo, a fresh flowers wholesaler - said workers had to use shovels to try to clear the roads out of the estate.

But she added many Worcestershire roads were treacherous as gritter lorries had not been on them in the early hours of yesterday, making it difficult for drivers to make deliveries.

"It was a nightmare," she said.

"We're down in an embankment trying to run a business, and with the compacted ice and snow the lorries couldn't get any grip and so get out.

"It wasn't just the estate. Once we got the lorries out we found many of the roads across Worcestershire hadn't been gritted.

"One of our drivers who was using the M5 in the early hours said even that hadn't been done."

But she added it was not just for the sake of business she wanted to see more roads gritted, it was also for the safety of drivers.

Mrs Smith now intends to write to Worcester MP Mike Foster to highlight the issue.

At the moment, councils across the country have no statutory duty to grit roads.

Tom Wells - the county council's portfolio holder for roads, transport and environmental issues - said he sympathised with the need for gritting.

He added Worcestershire county councillors had agreed to keep the service when they had no obligation to do so, in order to keep essential routes in Worcestershire open.

"Councillors at last year's budget agreed to set aside money to provide this service because they felt it was important," he said.

"Not only does it keep the county moving, but it also improves safety for drivers in icy conditions. Therefore main roads and primary routes are still being gritted.

"But it costs £10,000 each time we grit the county and we have a limited amount of money so we can cope for a limited amount of incidents."

Black ice causes traffic havoc

TREACHEROUS weather conditions wreaked havoc yesterday with black ice causing 17 accidents on Worcestershire roads.

West Mercia police have reiterated their warning for people to take extra care if they are venturing out.

Sgt Mel Ellis, from Worcester Control, said conditions were extremely dangerous this morning and although the major trunk roads were gritted, routes remained treacherous.

"People shouldn't make journeys unless they are absolutely necessary. If they must, they should drive more slowly and leave more room between them and the next car," she said.

Mike Harrison, assistant director of Worcester City Council's contract services, said refuse collection in Worcester City could have come to a standstill if not for the sheer determination of the six crews at work.

"They were really struggling and we thought they would give up as it got dark," he said.

"But they carried on, virtually completing the job except for a few odd places.

"They're working today and tomorrow as we're two days behind, and will try and grit in front of them as they go."

Court two at Worcester Magistrates Court was cancelled and magistrates were sent home after prosecutor Kiernan Cunningham failed to arrive in court.

Staff were told Mr Cunningham's car had ended up in a ditch as he travelled towards Worcester.

Meanwhile, a police helicopter had to be dispatched to an isolated area in Llanveynoe, Herefordshire, where a man and his nine-year-old son were cut off.

They had walked to a shop in the area and after three hours walking realised they could not reach their accommodation.