A driver who crashed his Jaguar after skidding on ice criticised the council's lack of preparation for the bout of snow.

Nicholas Scott, 31, of Hart Road, Thundersley, smashed his 18-month-old Jag on his way to the gym yesterday morning.

Plea - Nicholas shows where his Jag crashed

He claims the road had not been gritted, despite weather forecasts warning of snow.

However, Nigel Thomas, Castle Point Council's director of technical services, said: "I can't see how this happened.

"Our gritting service was in full operation yesterday morning and the roads in that area had been gritted the previous evening."

But Mr Scott said: "There were two inches of snow on the ground and so I was being extra cautious about driving, taking everything really slowly.

"I couldn't believe it when I realised the road had not been gritted. The weather reports the day before said it was going to be really icy overnight."

"I approached the junction of the Common but couldn't control the car on the sharp bend and slid across the road ending up on the grass verge."

Published Wednesday, January 8, 2003

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