WORCESTERSHIRE gritters have been given a give vote of confidence by County Hall, despite major road delays in the snow last week.

Coun Derek Prodger, cabinet member for the environment, said he went on a 75-mile drive around the county on Thursday during the snow and praised the team for keeping most roads clear.

Gritters were unable to reach the A4103 Worcester to Hereford road until around 7pm last Friday, where hundreds of cars were abandoned, because of the snarled up traffic.

A jacknifed lorry at Malvern Link also prevented gritters from getting around more quickly, which caused further chaos.

The gritters reached all main roads and most B-roads on Thursday before the chaos of Friday afternoon.

Coun Prodger said: "The A4103 became a problem because of the snarled up traffic, which meant some gritters could not even get out their depot to reach it on Friday.

"The gritters couldn't get through the sheer volume of traffic, and as soon as people start leaving cars on the road it causes us more problems.

"We had 25 gritters in the north and south of the city and when the lorry jacknifed in Malvern, it caused us more problems because the gritters could not reach Malvern Link either.

"All other roads were being gritted by the team, who I think did a wonderful job. Overall they did a thorough job.

"I drove around 75 miles, driving through areas like Fernill Heath, Droitwich, Evesham and Pershore and found the roads to be in good condition despite the snow.

"Some roads closed on Friday, such as Church Road in Malvern, because the police decided it was too risky to keep it open."

As the Worcester News reported yesterday, 250 drivers abandoned cars on the A4103 before walking as far as the Royal British Legion half a mile away in Cradley to seek shelter.

Sue Griffiths, of Gorsty Lane, Hereford, said: "I was driving up the A4103 and around 3.15pm we had a police car advise us that the Royal British Legion was opening up for people wanting to leave the cars.

"It was around a three quarters of a mile walk, but when we got there they were fantastic - they opened the bar up and provided sandwiches and hot drinks. The gritters came about 7pm and we drove away at 9.15pm."

Up to five inches (12.5cm) settled in the county on Friday, with two inches (5cm) settling in Worcester.