LEAKS, burst pipes and frozen water mains are continuing to plague properties across York and North Yorkshire, triggering renewed calls for people to use water wisely.

Workers at Yorkshire Water have been out over the bank holiday, carrying out hundreds of repairs.

A number of homes in Chestnut Grove in Acomb have been without water for almost two weeks while elsewhere the thaw has caused pipes to burst.

The British Heart Foundation store in Piccadilly, York, lost electricity on Friday and had to close following a leak.

A spokesman for the store said: “It’s not caused as much damage as we thought – we have been very lucky.

“With us being on the River Foss, all our pipes have frozen and it caused a bit of a nightmare.”

About 3,000 homes and businesses in Thirsk were without water after a burst on a major pipe which supplies a pumping station.

Derek Adamson, the mayor, said local supermarkets quickly sold out of bottled water.

“It’s just one of those things. We have had so many burst pipes all over Yorkshire and we have been quite lucky so far.”

Engineers worked throughout the day on Friday to repair a leak in Marygate off Bootham while the the water supply also went off along Maple Grove, Fulford.

Geoff Alderson, who has lived there for 30 years, said it was the first time he had known such a failure.

The supply was restored within hours, but engineers were out again in the area on New Year’s Day dealing with a second mains burst. Elsewhere, engineers spent New Year’s Day dealing with bursts at service reservoirs which affected water supply in the area around Easingwold.

A Yorkshire Water spokesman said: “The water system in Yorkshire continues to be under great stress; not just because of our water pipes but because of our customers’ too.

“It’s a huge amount and we have more people than ever working and that will continue over the bank holiday.”

Water companies have reported that fresh leaks have opened when they have repressurised the water system after existing leaks were repaired.

Yorkshire Water is recommending customers to use water wisely and check on neighbours’ empty properties. If you notice a leak, phone Yorkshire Water on 08451 242424.