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

Residents in Duxbury Avenue reported the leak at 6.20am yesterday, 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.

The firm said it was the second leak since the weekend and 150 homes in Duxbury Avenue and Tong Road were left with either low pressure or no water until about 10.30am yesterday.

The firm sent a “water on wheels” supply tanker to pump water into the mains and restore supplies while repairs were carried out.

A United Utilities spokesman said even though the initial problem was fixed it was going to replace the fitting “as a precaution” with some residents facing another two hours without water yesterday afternoon.

She added that another leak had occurred in Tong Road on Sunday and that it was possible the two were connected to water mains renewal work in Radcliffe Moor Road.

Duxbury Avenue resident Paul Kenny said: “We noticed a drop in pressure on Sunday afternoon and then on Monday night there was no pressure at all.

“I got up early on Tuesday morning and then it just started sputtering, but on Wednesday morning it wasn’t working again.

“It caused disruption but it wasn’t too bad.”

The company spokesman added: “We are going to replace the entire fitting so it won't happen again.

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

She said the leak in Tong Road on Sunday did not cause any loss of water and was repaired on Monday night.