Relief for workers after snow causes gridlock

8:00pm Tuesday 2nd December 2008

Weary workers in Bolton and Leigh arrived home tonight after a morning of misery as roads were gridlocked for several hours following a heavy snow fall during the night.

Many commuters took up to four hours to get into work for a journey which normally takes little over 15 minutes.

Drivers faced long delays getting in and out of Bolton as main routes were gridlocked after up to three inches of snow fell during night.

A number of schools in the area were closed.

Bolton Council says it did grit roads prior to heavy snowfall during night, but there have been a number of complaints from readers.

A Council spokesperson said: "Bolton Council deployed gritters to the road network at 8pm yesterday and again at 3am today, however there was heavy snow across the region at around 5am. Snow ploughs then went out at 6am."

Drivers near the M61 at Junction 5 and the A58 Park Road and White Horse junction on the A6 at Westhoughton faced long delays.

Hazardous conditions also affected St Peter's Way. Jams were also reported in the Newbrook Road area of Over Hulton.

Severe delays and hazardous driving conditions were alos reported due to ice on Bolton Road northbound between Water Street and Manchester Road from Atherton to Bolton.

Bus services were severely disrupted. One driver told a local radio station he was stuck in Westhoughton and the A6 was "a nightmare." Trains between Manchester and Bolton were also delayed.

A spokesman for Arriva Buses said: "There are delays to a number of services.

"Some routes have been temporarily re-routed as a result of heavy snow.

"We hope to get things back to normal as soon as possible."

Dozens of workers were spotted trudging in the snow on main roads into town into their offices.

The cold snap is expected to last for the rest of the week with more heavy snow forecast for Thursday.