They say the council's response was not robust enough and that it scrimped on salt, which has left people house-bound and unable to get to their work during the big freeze.

Tain Highland councillor Alasdair Rhind said: "It is an utter disgrace the way the council has treated the electorate with the state the roads are in.

"There is more salt coming out of our salt cellars than coming out of the back of the gritters.

"My understanding is that the machines are not putting out the same amount of salt that they used to because employees are under instructions not to.

"The director of transport, environmental and cultural (TEC) services does not accept this, but there seems to be conflicting reports from what's happening on the ground.

"If the council had got its act together on the first Monday after the snow fell and put sufficient salt on the streets, then we might not be in the state we're in.

"I know roads management say they are concentrating on the primary routes, but people who live in the housing estates, both public and private, and in the side streets, have every right to be able to get out of their homes.

"The council ploughs were in the car park of the Lidl store in Tain clearing snow and I'm told that Lidl pays the council for that service.

"I don't think the council should be servicing a commercial company while their own roads are in a horrendous state. What are the public paying their council tax for, after all? People are desperate and they're angry with the council."

Cromarty Firth councillor Maxine Smith agreed: "Although the weather has been extreme, people expect a certain level of service and when pavements are treacherous and people are house-bound then the council has to respond to this.

"I was defending the council's TEC services last week, as I accepted that they had to keep the main roads clear.

"However, over a week later I would expect that people would be able to walk about safely and drive on all roads, even the rural ones, but in many areas this is not the case and this needs to change.

"People have tried to be pro-active and salt their own bits but there is only so much we can do."

She added: "The administration in the council needs to instruct TEC services to maintain the roads and paths correctly and not scrimp on grit and salt, which has been happening so far."

A council spokesman said: "The council is using 2,000 tonnes of salt and grit a day. We're disappointed to hear of the criticism, which is not reflected across the Highlands where people have been very understanding of the exceptional conditions."

Local shops have been cleared out of salt and shovels as people try to make their own arrangements to cope with the snow and ice.

Frank Nicol farm shop in Dingwall now has a waiting list for salt.

Mr Nicol said: "There's no salt in Ross-shire. We've gone through eight tonnes so far and we're waiting on another eight tonnes coming in.

"We took a delivery of 50 snow shovels on Monday morning and they were all gone by 2pm. Everybody's desperate."

Despite the anger over the lack of gritting in communities, only one route remained closed as the North Star went to press, the unclassified Bealach na Ba road from Kishorn to Applecross.

editor@north-star-news.co.uk

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