A MAJOR road near Ipswich had to be gritted a staggering FIVE times as authorities made a desperate bid to keep it safe, it emerged today.

A MAJOR road near Ipswich had to be gritted a staggering FIVE times as authorities made a desperate bid to keep it safe, it emerged today.

Onlookers reported witnessing an icy sheen on the A12 near Martlesham at both the Tesco and BT roundabouts on Tuesday morning.

Despite being gritted on Monday afternoon between 3pm and 5pm and again on Tuesday morning between 4.30am and 6.30am, motorists continued to face treacherous conditions in the morning rush hour.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council said the road was eventually gritted a further three times in an attempt to make it safe.

She said: “Following calls from police the road was gritted a further three times between 8am and 10.30am.”

Amazingly no accidents were reported on that section of road yesterday morning.

The spokeswoman added that it is unclear why the road was so frosty in comparison to other areas of the county.

Suffolk police said they contacted the council following two reports from members of the public in that area.

A spokeswoman for the force said drivers are being advised to drive carefully in the current cold spell and to consider the condition of the road.