Work begins on £1.1m water mains replacement

It is hoped the work will improve reliability of drinking water supply

A £1.1m water mains replacement project in North Yorkshire is under way in a bid to improve reliability of drinking water supply and reduce leakage.

Yorkshire Water said 1.6 miles (2.6km) of pipes would be replaced between Hauxwell and Hunton, with the first section of work due to start in South View in Hunton on Monday.

The initial works are expected to take three weeks to complete, the firm said, with a road closure in place for safety reasons.

Over the next five years, Yorkshire Water, which imposed a hosepipe ban earlier in July, said it hoped to replace more than 621 miles (1,000km) of water mains across the region.

Project manager Nichola Fairbairn said: "In the first year of our mains replacement project, over 90km (56 miles) of pipes will be replaced in this part of the county - with more already planned for the following years."

The project will continue in Hunton and in Hauxwell later in the year.

The firm said additional mains replacement schemes were already being delivered nearby, including a £1.8m scheme between Well and Bedale, and a £1.5m scheme in Brompton-on-Swale.

A £6m service reservoir, which holds 2.5m litres of treated drinking water, is also being built in Scotton, a spokesperson added.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.