VILLAGERS near York lost their water supplies for hours after a valve in a supply pipe froze – as hundreds of customers across the area suffered burst pipes.

Yorkshire Water said about 500 properties in Tollerton, Shipton-by-Beningbrough and Nun Monkton suffered loss of supplies or reduced pressure yesterday morning after a “pressure- reducing valve” on one of its supply pipes froze.

“As soon as we discovered this, we worked hard to reroute supplies and water was restored to all affected properties by approximately 1.30pm today,” said a spokesman.

“We’d like to thank customers for flagging up the problem and reassure them that we’re working hard to do our very best to ensure that, despite the extreme temperatures we’re currently experiencing, our pipes are operating as they should be.”

At Tollerton Stores, Elizabeth Dawson said it had almost run out of bottled water after worried customers feared being left without a supply at home.

She said: “People have been coming in and saying they have just a trickle of water or none at all. At our house there was a trickle this morning then it went to nothing. It’s worrying. We just have to use the water in the tank but when that has gone we have had it.” Claire Smith, 35, a mother-of two who also lives in the village, had a severely disrupted hot-water supply. “I seem to have cold water but otherwise we would have to go the supermarket for some bottles.”


Plumbers inundated with calls

PLUMBERS have been working frantically to deal with a spate of pipes which have burst due to the bitter arctic weather.

Selby-based Liam Howley, of LJ Plumbing and Heating, said he had taken hundreds of calls since the wintry weather began, and Yorkshire Water received more than 600 calls in eight hours yesterday.

He said: “I’ve had hundreds of calls in the past few weeks, at least 20 a day for the last month or so.

“I’m trying to get out to as many people as I can, but also trying to advise people over the phone, because there is a lot they can do themselves to help prevent burst pipes.”

Liam said people should ensure their boilers and pipes are properly lagged if they are housed in an unheated environment, like a garage or cupboard.

He also said residents should keep an eye on the pressure of their boilers and try to make sure they were running at the right water pressure.

Yorkshire Water said customers should keep their homes heated at a low level and wrap all pipework, cisterns and tanks in good quality waterproof foam lagging.

If a pipe bursts, customers should turn off their stop tap, which is often located under the kitchen sink. Frozen pipes can be thawed by applying gentle heat from a hairdryer or similar appliance, starting at the end nearest the tap.