RESIDENTS across Bury have faced regular travel disruptions as freezing and windy weather hit the borough.

Snow caused problems for motorists, especially in Ramsbottom and Tottington, while strong winds were also a factor and led to firefighters being called out to houses on two separate occasions because of structural damage.

There were reports of cars skidding across the road due to the snow and ice last weekend, and The Rake in Ramsbottom was closed for a time due to the conditions.

One commuter who was attempting to get to work in Bury from his home in Ramsbottom had to abandon his car on the advice of police, and instead had to get the bus because of the gridlock caused by the snow.

In addition, buses on the 474 route, which runs from Bury to Ramsbottom, had to be halted from Ramsbottom to Walmersley on Saturday (January 17) because of black ice, as the bus company said the road had not been treated.

A Bury Council spokesman said that gritters had been sent out 11 times across the borough over the weekend, but said that some vehicles had become stuck in traffic caused by the wintry conditions.

He said: "Some gritters got caught up in traffic and in the icy conditions, but the council is doing everything possible to keep our roads open in the winter weather."

Passengers using the 524 bus, which runs from Bury to Bolton, also suffered disruption when services were delayed because of a crash in Radcliffe town centre on Saturday.

Snow fell again on Tuesday night, but the Met Office say it is not expected to continue over the next few days, with a high of 2°C expected today, and rain predicted for tomorrow.

Before the snow hit the borough, strong winds caused crews at Bury fire station to be called out twice last Wednesday night to deal with unsafe structures.

Firefighters attended a house in Manchester Road, Bury, after a pole with three aerials and a satellite dish had become loose because of the wind at about 9pm, and had to pull the pole down to make the area safe.

The same crew were then called out again at 11pm to a similar incident in Booth Street, Tottington, where the winds had unhinged an aerial pole outside a property there, causing it to hang down in front of another house.

Firefighters removed the pole as a safety measure.