NURSERY bosses are angry at United Utilities' lax response after 83 toddlers were left without water for more than two hours.

One morning last week an external water pipe burst, spraying cold water into the kitchen at Best Friends Nursery in St John's Road, Mosley Common.

As the water level rose to three inches the 83 children, aged between three months and four years, sat in the next room eating from paper plates.

Vincent Reilly and his wife Carole, who have been running the nursery for almost 14 years, immediately contacted United Utilities and were disgusted to be told someone would be sent out within 24 hours.

Vincent said: "It was an emergency, we were swimming across the kitchen while small children waited to be cared for in the next room, but they seemed to have no sense of urgency."

Armed with mops and buckets, six staff and the cook tried to keep the water at bay until a plumber arrived two hours later.

Carole, aged 45, said: "We had already had to use paper party plates for the children's food as there was no water to wash up and we were minutes from ringing their parents to collect them."

United Utilities finally arrived at the scene at midday, minutes after an independent plumber had fixed the pipe and turned the mains back on.

Carole said: "I can't believe the poor response. Their delay just meant the problem and damage was increased."