Angry householders forced to desperately seek out grit to treat streets in the Belfry, the Priory and the Spires, hit out at Roads Service for failing, they said, to provide enough boxes.

Adrian Armstrong, who lives in the Priory, said he ended up "begging and borrowing" grit to help cars get up and down the roads in the area.

"We have been told that we won't be getting any more boxes this year but we need them now," said Mr Armstrong.

"I was getting grit in any way I can and transporting it up to the estates in my own car and using my own fuel to try and clear the roads.

"Other residents too were doing what they could to get the roads clear but we shouldn't have to do this - that should be down to Roads Service.

"What happens if the prediction of another big freeze in a couple of months time becomes a reality? We are going to be left snookered again."

Mr. Armstrong also complained that other smaller estates had more salt boxes than theirs and that this should be resolved urgently.

"I know that in Demesne Valley there are three grit boxes, two of which have a mix of salt with fine grit. Our area is a lot larger than that and we just have one box.

"I don't think it's fair and I think it needs sorted out before there is an accident and somebody is hurt."

A DRD spokesperson said: "Roads Service has a strict criteria for the provision of grit boxes on the public road network.

"This has been applied in the Spires, Belfry and Priory development in Dromore and a box provided.

"Demense Valley, which has also been mentioned, may have several grit boxes but this development is not yet adopted, ie not a public road, and so is the responsibility of the developer."