DROUGHT-HIT water chiefs were blasted today for allowing more than 26,000 gallons of 'precious' water to drain away.

For almost three weeks water has leaked from a burst main at the junction of Ribchester Road and Whalley Road, Blackburn.

Resident Judith Gibson has carried out her own investigations to measure just how much water has been wasted.

She has calculated that more than 26,000 gallons have been squandered - at the staggering rate of one litre every 10 seconds.

She said the wasted water was equivalent to what 48 people would use in a full two weeks.

Officials from North West Water, Lancashire County Council and the police have been locked in talks to try and resolve the problem.

It is expected that work will be carried out tomorrow to repair the burst main, which will leave more than 200 homes without water for the day. A section of Ribchester Road will also be closed while the work takes place.

But Judith, of Vicarage Lane, said: "Water bosses have been applying for drought orders and imposing hosepipe bans but have been allowing leaks like this to occur.

"This is a big waste of water which is extremely precious at the moment."

A North West Water spokeswoman said the delay in repairing the main had been due to lengthy talks with police and highways bosses.

She said: "The work is schedule to be done on Sunday. It is a major traffic junction so we need to close off the road.

"Before we can do that, there has to be a statutory period of notice."

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