WORKMEN will soon have extra time to prevent Blackburn running dry in an emergency thanks to a new reservoir.

Water company United Utilities is investing £3.6million in the replacement facility at the Fishmoor Water Treatment Works off Roman Road and work is scheduled to be completed by next spring.

It will hold a 24-hour supply for the town's 110,000 population, estimated at 17 million litres or the equivalent to seven Olympic-sized swimming pools. It will come into play in case of a major burst or problems at the water treatment works.

The current back-up reservoir only holds fours hours' supply.

A spokeswoman said: "We call these back-up reservoirs a service reservoir and there is a small one at the treatment works but it's around 50 years old and due for renewal. This new reservoir will help us increase security of water supply for the town."

A tree screen is already in place at the works and the company plans to plant more semi-grown trees to screen the new site.

The service reservoir is part of an £11 million scheme to update water treatment procedures at the works.

The spokeswoman said: "There are new water treatment guidelines coming in over the next couple of years and the work is aimed at meeting those."

"The scheme in Blackburn is part of a larger one for the North West in which we are investing £3 billion over the next five years -- the equivalent to more than £1,000 for every home in the North West."