RESIDENTS are celebrating the end of a four-year leaking pipe saga.

Since 2007, thousands of gallons of water have run down James Street West near Darwen Health Centre from a cracked pipe in nearby Reservoir Street.

In winter the freezing and thawing of water worsened problems with the road surface.

Blackburn with Darwen Council refused to repair the road until the leak was fixed.

Engineers from United Utilities visited the site 15 times and determined the problem was coming from a pipe belonging to householders in Reservoir Street.

Now, as a gesture of goodwill, the company has linked the houses to a mains supply, cutting off the problem pipe.

A United Utilities spokesman said: “There has been a long-standing problem with leaks on a shared pipe that is the responsibility of residents in the street. It is a similar situation to an unadopted road not being the responsibility of the council.

“Even so, over the past four years we have repaired this private pipe 15 times in order to prevent wastage of water and ensure the safety of people in the area.

“We have now provided new mains connections to the properties still served by this private pipe and it has been disconnected. United Utilities has footed the bill for this work as a gesture of goodwill to resolve the issue.”

Sunnyhurst Councillor Dave Smith said: “The residents in that area are very pleased this has finally been resolved.

“There must have been thousands and thousands of gallons of water lost over the four years, and in winter it was a real hazard.

“But now the saga is finally over, and the next step is getting the council to resurface the road.

“I have written letters and emails, so hopefully it can be done as soon as possible.”