UNGRITTED streets have been blamed by a man who needing eight stitches after falling badly in Shepherd's Bush.

Hammersmith and Fulham's TUC branch chairman Bert Schouwenburg, 56, of Westville Road, was walking along Goldhawk Road at 3pm on Friday (17/12) when he slipped on the icy pavement.

With no time to soften his fall, Mr Schouwenburg fell on his face and was helped by passers-by before being taken to Charing Cross Hospital by ambulance.

He has been left fuming at what he calls 'council negligence' and left to sport a nasty black eye and cut for Christmas.

He said: "The pavement was like a complete block of ice and there was not a spot of grit anywhere to be seen.

"I landed right on my face and the ambulance crew told me that if I had landed on my temple then I could have died. It is appalling and I fear for the elderly residents who might not be as lucky as me.

"The council has yet again provided a shocking service and the roads around the borough are so treacherous it is untrue."

Stephen Cowan, leader of Labour Opposition at H&F Council, said: "This is the third winter in a row that there has been a lack of gritting on Hammersmith and Fulham's main roads, pavements and side streets.

"This is clearly a budgetary and policy decision made by H&F's ruling politicians and one that is causing chaos for many borough residents."

Temperatures dipped to minus nine in H&F last week with heavy snow causing traffic chaos and leaving the council with a giant task to keep the streets safe and have been gritting priority roads up to three times a day.

A council spokesman said: "These are completely extreme conditions and we have been out gritting twice and day and even three times a day.

"We are doing our utmost to keep the streets safe but we would also urge residents to take extra care when out and about.

"It is simply impossible for council staff to clear all 125 miles of streets and 300 miles of pavements.

"With all council staff dedicated to priority routes, we are calling on residents to help with side roads and pavements.

"You can clear snow by shovelling it away from your front door, pathways and pavements.

"A scattering of household salt or dishwasher salt will help keep the paths clear. You can also buy grit salt from DIY stores."