Commuters travelling into Bristol faced chaos in the freezing temperatures because a shortage of grit left many roads untreated, causing several accidents.

North Somerset Council has been urging drivers to avoid minor roads after it cut the length of its road network being gritted from 199 miles to just 78.

As reported by the Bristol Post, a series of accidents in icy conditions left roads used by commuters blocked on Wednesday morning – and drivers were being warned to expect more problems today as overnight temperatures again plunged as low as -4C.

The A369 at Abbots Leigh became gridlocked early yesterday after the driver of a people carrier lost control and hit a lamppost and wall by Home Farm Road junction.

In another accident at just after 6am, a driver lost control of her car on the bend at the entrance to Cuckoo Lane in Clapton-in-Gordano, with the vehicle landing on its side on the grass verge.

The area – including Naish Hill – was closed while emergency teams cleared the accident. People rushed to help the 23-year-old driver and managed to pull her to safety through the boot of the car before she was treated by the emergency services.

Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, deputy leader of North Somerset Council, said the decision to cut the amount of roads gritted would make supplies of salt last longer.

He said: "We will continue to salt the main arterial routes across the district and access for facilities such as hospitals, police and fire stations. Clearly we can't treat all roads."

Portbury Lane, which had not been gritted, also had to be closed off yesterday morning after two crashes in the space of half an hour.

No one was badly injured.

There were also accidents in Weston-super-Mare, on the A370, and in Fishponds, on the A432.

Bristol, South Gloucestershire and B&NES said there were no immediate concerns about salt supplies.