Boil tap water order for North Yorkshire postcode

Yorkshire Water says 86 properties in the Nidderdale area are affected

Some North Yorkshire residents have been told to boil their tap water, after tests showed the water supply may be contaminated with bacteria.

Yorkshire Water said 86 properties in the Nidderdale area, near Harrogate, have been affected by elevated levels of coliform microbes.

They include homes in High Birstwith, Darley, Menwith Hill, Thornthwaite, and Felliscliffe, which are rural communities within the HG3 2 postcode area.

The order, which has been in place since last week, instructs people to boil all tap water and allow to cool for drinking, cleaning teeth and preparing foods which will be eaten uncooked.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said: "Last week, some of our routine tests showed that the water supply in HG3 2 didn't meet our usual standards.

"As a result, we've issued precautionary boil water advice to customers in the area.

"Customers may see more Yorkshire Water colleagues around this week, while we continue our efforts to get everything back to normal as soon as possible."

Coliform is a family of bacteria which includes E. coli and which can cause significant illness in the frail, the elderly, the sick and the very young.

The water company added it would be carrying out investigations, collecting additional water samples and begin flushing the network on Tuesday.

"We understand the boil water advice will be inconvenient for customers and would like to thank them for their patience," they said.

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