A COUPLE were left without a water supply to their home after United Utilities carried out work on their road.

Pensioners Eric and Glenda Smith, of Turton Road, Bradshaw, were forced to use a specially installed standpipe across the road after their water was accidentally cut off.

When workmen installed new pipes in the area, supplies were switched off from 8am until just after noon on Thursday.

But when the supply came back on elsewhere, it did not return to the Smiths' house.

After unsuccessful efforts to fix the problem, workmen installed a standpipe across the road on Thursday night for the couple to used.

Mrs Smith, aged 70, said: "We understand that water had to be turned off but no one can understand why the supply was not reconnected.

"The only thing they offered us was a stand pipe on the other side of the road.

"My husband is 68 and has had to carry buckets of water back and forth for everything, to flush the toilet, for cleaning and cooking.

"He has been exhausted and, with the hot weather, neither of us could have a shower."

The retired kitchen assistant added: "We were not even offered bottled water."

The couple were reconnected yesterday.

A spokesman for United Utilities said: "We apologise for the problems the couple have had. Occasionally we do have problems like this.

"We will also look into what happened, because normally we would go with bottled water and offer assistance."

The works form part of a £390,000 scheme to improve nearly six kilometres of old cast iron water mains in the Bromley Cross, Egerton, Eagley and Cox Green areas of Bolton.