Five months of water mains work begins

Work is under way to replace water mains across Cumbria

A project to upgrade 6.8 miles (11km) of water mains has begun.

Pipes will be replaced between Oughterby and Wigton in Cumbria as part of United Utilities £380m programme of work on 574.7 miles (925km) of mains across the north-west of England over the next five years.

The five-month, £4m project will be carried out in sections starting in Oughterby, then through Wiggonby and Thursby, before finishing in Wigton.

Paul Forshaw from United Utilities said: "We know this type of work can be disruptive and we are doing all we can to keep that to a minimum."

The mains are being replaced with more durable and flexible pipework to improve the reliability of drinking water in the area by building them to withstand high pressure and temperature variations.

It will also protect against bursts and reduce leaks, United Utilities said.

Elsewhere, work is already under way to upgrade a kilometre of mains in Daltson and another project in Kirkby Stephen is set to begin in mid-October.