AN MP is calling for more money to be spent on gritting roads and paths during icy spells.

Durham City Labour member Roberta Blackman-Woods says several residents contacted her after slipping on pavements or having car accidents during the recent cold snap.

She says Durham County Council should spend more money treating highways and that the County Durham Primary Care Trust (PCT) should help fund increased coverage.

"Nobody wants to see the problems encountered this year repeated and therefore a greater number of roads/footpaths need to receive treatment. I am therefore urging the Council and PCT to make the necessary changes to ensure that the budget allowance for the Winter Maintenance treatment is increased."

But Bob Young, the council’s cabinet member for Traffic, Transport and the Environment, said the authority had done what the MP was calling for.

"The severity of this winter has meant we are already spending over and above the £2.4m set aside in current winter roads maintenance budget.

" So far we have spent an extra £100,000 and we shall continue to spend whatever the weather dictates to maintain our promised level of service.

" We are very conscious of the problems winter weather can cause people, and the fact that we are spending over and above our budget dealing with them shows the high priority we give this area of service provision.

"However, we just don’t have the physical or financial resources to treat every road and footpath throughout the county."

A PCT spokeswoman said: "Whilst the PCT does not have a responsibility for gritting the roads, we do however, have an interest in reducing accidents and to improve health. "We will continue to work with key partners to influence the areas under their responsibility.’’