A WATER tanker was drafted in after 150 homes had their water supplies disrupted following a leak in Little Lever.

Residents in Duxbury Avenue reported the leak at around 6.20am today - Wednesday January 9 - and United Utilities engineers discovered that a hydrant on one of its water mains had broken.

Water had escaped into the road but the leak was shut off and engineers began repairs.

Speaking on Wednesday morning, a United Utilities spokeswoman said: “We are going to replace the entire fitting so it won't happen again.

“This will mean that about 25 homes in Tonge Road will need to have their water cut off for about two hours this afternoon while we do this work.

“We're very sorry it has disrupted people’s day but our engineers are doing everything they can to put it right.”