Central Bedfordshire Council has defended itself against criticism over failure to grit Leighton and Linslade's roads.

Our sister paper, the LBO, highlighted the town's dangerous icy streets in its Tuesday issue.

But In a statement Central Bedfordshire said that Beds Highways has  just started another 1000km gritting run as it prepares for temperatures to reach minus six. Gritting in the county is a 24 hour operation.

It said the gritters were out with snowploughs to help clear the roads of snow and it had also completed four gritting runs (almost 4000km in distance) of the county's priority networks. crews have also been focussing on secondary routes and three teams were out replenishing salt bins and two crews have been hand salting main shopping areas in some town centres and access roads.

Also, crews will continue to monitor weather conditions with an aim to making sure roads across Bedfordshire remain clear.

Gritters have now been spotted in and around Leighton. And today, Wednesday, council workers were out in force gritting the High Street.

But some residents are still not convinced.

Geoff Paddock, of Linslade, was unimpressed. He sent emails to the council complaining very strongly about the state of the town's roads.

He said: "I was annoyed about the state of our roads on Monday night and Tuesday morning. My wife took three hours to do a 15 minute journey from Milton Keynes to Leighton Buzzard and two of my friends had to abandon cars by the roadside. I wrote to Central Beds council and told them that its website was broken, just like our roads. I tried to send them a complaint about the state of Leighton Buzzard's roads, strewn with abandoned vehicles, because it had not been doing its job and gritting. Surprise, surprise, the 'web form' did not work either! It may not get any complaints, but believe me it's not because people think it is doing a decent job."

Gavin Prechner sent in a photo of cars abandoned on the A4146. He said: "This was the scene at 10pm on Monday, there were a significant number of abandoned cars on the roundabout where Soulbury Road (B4032) crosses the Linslade bypass (A4146) to the west of Leighton. The picture was taken, looking west towards Soulbury. Behind me is the small hill that leads into Linslade. There were more cars abandoned at the bottom of the hill. Drivers and passengers were making their way on foot from the bypass, back into Leighton Buzzard."

Tracy Wood has been keeping a close eye on the gritting situation. She said: "Yet again the roads have not been gritted.  Since Sunday I have noticed the bypass has not been gritted, Wing Road (up to Wing), Stoke Road, in fact I have not seen any road gritted. I have a question for the council. When the King Street Depot closed, what alternative measures were put in place?"

It's not all been doom and gloom though as school holidays are here and many people have taken time off work early to enjoy the festive fall-out.

A 'chilly fella' appeared in a garden in Brookside Walk, Leighton, and many others have been having fun in the snow.

It would have been difficult to see the green at Mentmore Golf Club so golfers decided on a different course of action. Assistant pro golfer Chris Hattersley and the club's course ranger Dave Impey made a golfing snowman. Tee-hee!

A spokesman said: "Golf couldn't be played so they built the snowman. Only the best for him – he has a Ping custom fit club and is wearing a charity hat for the Wooden Spoon, which we have raised £17,500 for this year."

Keen photographer Tim Casterton, from Leighton was out and about with his camera last weekend and captured some beautiful snowy scenes. One is a picture of the River Ouzel taken from the town bridge. Tim said: "The snow makes this back water of LB actually look quite picturesque instead of it's usual dull self!"

The second photo is of the Grand Union Canal from the bridge. Tim said: "Plenty of people walking along the tow path and the ducks are having a good swim. Camouflaged by the white snow is a swan on the covered grass at the canal edge of the tow path."

Mervyn Leah of Leighton Buzzard's steam railway sent us in a photo of Santa. He said: "Santa was in his element in yesterday's Arctic conditions at Page's Park station!"

Picturesque photos of Parsons Close Rec and the band stand were taken by reporter Sarah Holmes.