The Big Freeze is continuing to bite across the Bradford district.

The city was among the busiest areas in the country for call-outs to breakdown organisations.

And sub-zero temperatures have been playing havoc with home heating systems. Social housing landlord Incom-munities has reported a 25 per cent increase in calls about broken boilers on the same period last year, with its gas servicing contractor Lovell Respond receiving 842 calls for boiler repairs last week alone.

Staff employed to carry out repairs have also taken milk, bread and other provisions to elderly customers house-bound by the wintry weather.

Jez Lester, Incommunities assistant chief executive for asset management, said: “Incommunities repairs teams and Lovell Respond have been working extremely hard responding to reports from customers during the extremely cold weather. “They have at times had to battle through very difficult wintry conditions. They have, however, ensured customers have continued to receive an effective service in order to help keep homes warm.”

British Gas received 66,000 calls to its centre which deals with customers in Scotland and the north of England, which was double the amount expected.

Over the last four days, Bradford-based Yorkshire Water has seen a 60 per cent increase in calls to its contact centre in Bradford to report leaks and frozen water pipes and has attended on average 68 bursts a day – a 23 per cent increase on the same period last year.

The RAC and AA breakdown services yesterday both reported receiving 3,000 calls, with the AA citing Bradford as one of its busiest areas.

All schools were open yesterday but Bradford Council reported that bin collections continued to be disrupted. Refuse left uncollected will be picked up at a later date.

A full grit of the district’s roads took place at 5am and Council staff were out dealing with problem areas and icy patches throughout the day.

A spokesman for the Met Office said Bradford was unlikely to see much more snow for the rest of the week with only light showers forecast for today but temperatures are set to continue to be below freezing overnight.