Folk are left high and dry

Engineers from North West Water were battling to restore the supply after a main which provides water to Earnsdale Reservoir burst at 3am.

Twelve bowsers -- portable water tanks -- were today sited around the town to provide residents with supplies of water, but dozens of schoolchildren were sent home early.

The bowsers were located in the Birch Hall, Avondale, town centre and southern areas of Darwen.

Residents were also flagging down a mobile water tanker which was providing emergency supplies. North West Water officials were hoping that the main would be repaired by this afternoon.

A company spokesman said the reservoir was one of two which supplied water to the town.

He said: "There was a burst in a 15-inch main at 3am today. The main supplies water into the reservoir so there was nothing to fill it up with and at one point the reservoir was almost empty.

"The engineers are trying to repair the burst and we are also trying to rezone the supply -- which means that water from other areas will supply homes. But that does take a bit of time."

He added: "We put 12 bowsers into the parts of Darwen affected and a mobile tanker for residents to fill up with emergency supplies."

A spokeswoman at Avondale Primary School, Durham Road, said: "We are trying to contact all the parents so the children can go home early.

"We also have a bowser at the school to provide emergency supplies of water."

Darwen Leisure Centre was also forced to close leading to the cancellation of school swimming lessons and other activities.

A spokeswoman said: "We closed at 10.30am, but we have been told by North West Water that we should be able to open tonight."

The water was also off at Darwen Health Centre -- but services managed to continue after staff bought several barrels and filled them with water.

Kath Jackson, community nurse manager, said: "We are running the service as normal and we are taking all necessary hygiene precautions."