WOMEN had to be turned away from a mobile breast screening unit after vandals tampered with the water supply -- leaving water dangerously dripping onto electrical wires.

The unit, at the Teanlowe Centre in Poulton, was forced to cancel screening appointments last Thursday after they found the damage outside their van.

Carol Southworth, deputy head of the Department for the Breast Screening Unit at Lancaster Royal Hospital, said: "The tap had been disconnected from its source box outside the van.

"Water ran into the box compromising the electricity supply.The supply was fixed in the morning and we were able to carry on the screening programme in the afternoon."

Annelise Wright, 63, was one of the dozen women turned away from the unit on Thursday morning. Mrs Wright had cycled down to her 9.40 am appointment from her home in St. David's Avenue in Cleveleys.

"I'd just got there on time and was waiting with another four ladies. We were then told some vandals had messed around with the water and we would have to leave and try again later because they would have to stop screening.

"When we came back we were told we would have to book another appointment. I was angry with the vandals. Something should be done there. If the trailer is there the police should be around to keep an eye on it," she said.