LOCAL authorities say they will not be cutting back on road gritting this winter, despite a landmark legal ruling.

The House of Lords ruled earlier this year that a council did not have to salt all the roads in its area after an accident on a road that had not been gritted.

The AA said it feared the ruling could put drivers at risk.

Paul Watters, head of roads and transport for the AA, said: "We want all local authorities to recognise that the legal responsibility lies with them to minimise death and injuries on the road.

"Winter gritting and snow clearance must be an integral part of each local authority's road safety plan."

Durham County Council said it grits more than 50 per cent of roads it is responsible for, using a three-tier priority system which has been in place for a number of years.

A spokesman said: "As far as we are concerned, the ruling will have no adverse impact on the county council's level of winter road maintenance activities.

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council said its policy would also be unaltered, adding: "We still salt 66 per cent of our roads in the borough.

"If there is a new ruling, then certainly Darlington Borough Council isn't amending it's road gritting policy for this year.