ANGRY villagers were fuming when they told to keep their taps running after they reported muddy water.

Homes in the Pleasington area of Blackburn were affected with the problem.

And despite North West Water's repeated calls for customers to save water during the current drought, they were told to keep their taps permanently running.

One angry resident said: "This is disgusting, after all North West Water have said about saving money they turn around and tell us to keep our taps running. When I rang up and reported the problem they seemed very unconcerned about it.

"Just think how much water will have been wasted if every home affected kept their taps turned on."

A North West Water spokeswoman said: "The problem was caused when a pressure control valve on Gib Lane was sticking.

"That was sorted out but the increased pressure lifted sediment from the bottom of the pipes which turned the water brown but it was perfectly safe to drink.

"Telling people to leave their taps running is not sensibly advice, particularly in the drought and we do not know who gave that advice."

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