Yorkshire Water reports surge in calls on frozen pipes

Yorkshire Water expects temperatures in the region to plummet again next week

The number of people calling Yorkshire Water for advice about frozen pipes has jumped during the past week, the company has said.

It received about 2,500 calls from customers on Tuesday alone, a five-fold increase on normal levels.

The company urged customers to check pipes carefully for cracks and leaks which may have appeared as ice begins to thaw after the recent cold spell.

It also said any taps left running to avoid freezing must be turned off.

Frozen pipes have disrupted water supplies to some customers and Yorkshire Water said it had formed a team to deliver bottled water to vulnerable customers wherever possible.

'Enormous pressure'

But now with a rise in temperatures, customers whose pipes are frozen have been urged to monitor them carefully to check for any leaks.

"Many will have been under enormous pressure whilst they were frozen as the water inside them expanded and it is possible that they could have developed stress fractures which may only come to light when the water inside them begins to thaw," Yorkshire Water said.

Temperatures are forecast to drop again next week.

The company has advised customers keep homes heated, wrap all pipework, cisterns and tanks in unheated areas using good quality waterproof foam lagging and turn off stop taps if there is a burst.