A MOTORIST who warned police about black ice on a waterlogged road, later learned his friend had died in a four-vehicle smash at the same spot.

Mark Walsh called 999 after almost crashing on the pitch black A6 between Blackrod and Adlington as he drove home from work.

Less than 25 minutes later his friend, Barry Britton’s Saab was involved in a collision with a double-decker bus and another car at the same spot.

Mr Britton suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene. Four other people were injured and needed hospital treatment. The accident happened at 7.20am on Tuesday.

Last night, as the 48-year-old prison officer’s family paid tribute to a “loving husband and proud and wonderful dad”, Mr Walsh spoke of his disbelief at the tragic twist.

The 46-year-old delivery driver, who lives in Adlington, said: “It just seems so bizarre that I thought there could be a crash there, warned the police and it turned out to be Barry. I can't believe it.”

Mr Walsh says he called 999 after he and a lorry in front of him almost lost control in the treacherous conditions.

“I pulled over and told them: ‘Someone could end up getting themselves killed down here, it’s that bad’.”

Mr Walsh, who works nights, then went home to bed after warning another friend not to drive along it.

He said: “I rang a friend whose movements to work I knew and told him to go the back way instead because it was so horrible.

“But with Barry working at a prison on shifts, I wouldn’t have thought to ring him because I didn’t know his movements. He and his wife Julie weren’t nine-to-five people.”

He added: “I know it was only half an hour difference but I’d like to know what action they took.”

Mr Walsh says he became friends with Mr and Mrs Britton, a train driver, through their sons. Mr Walsh’s 17-year-old son, Liam, went to Runshaw College with the Brittons’ youngest son, Elliot, and would often go on holiday with the family, who live in Highfield Road, Adlington.

Mr Walsh said: “We used to go out occasionally for a curry or a few drinks or I’d speak to Julie about the lads going to concerts together.

“Liam used to love those holidays away to Germany and camping down south. They were a really good fun people and a very close family. They will all be devastated.”

In a statement, Mr Britton’s wife, Julie, and two sons Dale, aged 21, and Elliot, aged 16, said: "Barry will be desperately missed by his family and friends.

"Barry was a loving husband, married for 24 years, and a proud and wonderful dad.

"Everyone who met him loved him. He touched people's lives with his generosity, kindness and humour.

"His laugh was loud and infectious. He will be sadly missed by everyone."

Greater Manchester Police initially said Mr Walsh’s 999 call had been passed on to the Highways Agency.

But last night the Highways Agency said it had no record of any call. GMP then confirmed that the switchboard operator had made "highways aware".

The A6 is the local authority’s responsibility because it is not a motorway or trunk road. A Bolton Council spokesman was unable to say whether its highways department had received Mr Walsh’s warning from the police.

But responding to claims by Blackrod Town Council and residents that they had warned about a longstanding problem with water running off the hills and settling on that stretch — where there have been two other serious accidents in three years — the spokesman said: "Following reports about flooding on the A6 in 2007 we completed drainage works to resolve the problem and have received no further complaints since that work was completed.

“Our records also show that this stretch of road was gritted on four consecutive nights and that the driver of the gritting vehicle was not aware of any water or ice on the road when he completed the route."