Lives are being put at risk because a north council has cut back on its road gritting budget, it is claimed.

The leader of Derwentside District Council says Durham County Council, which oversees gritting operations, has ordered fewer roads be treated to save cash.

Alex Watson says some vital public transport routes are no longer being gritted.

But the county council says it has been forced to make cuts to stave off a rise in council tax.

Many of the routes that have been cut are bus routes that carry women and children Derwentside Council leader Alex Watson

Durham County Council has cut 20% from its gritting budge for Derwentside this year.

But Mr Watson said: "No-one denies that tough decisions have to be taken when savings have to be made.

"But decisions that put people's health and safety at risk should be avoided.

"Many of the routes that have been cut are bus routes that carry women and children.

'Budget problems'

"There have already been many near misses and there is real concern within the community.

"We need to see an increase in gritting, not cutbacks."

Durham County Council leader Ken Manton said: "We have to take account of our budget problems.

"In this case we have cut back from 50% of roads gritted to 39%, which is still above Audit Commission guidance.

"We put our council tax up by 14.8% last year and I didn't get anybody, including Mr Watson or his council, saying we should put it up even more to put more gritting on the roads."