BURNLEY council is stepping up its campaign to stop pre-payment water meters being fitted in the borough's homes.

A leaflet is being published to inform residents about the meters, which the council says are a health risk because they will lead to hard-up families being cut off.

Councillors and officers have vowed to prevent the devices being installed, despite assurances from the water company that they will not be forced on anyone and that they do not pose a health risk.

Anti-poverty officer Steve Watson told the Citizen that pre-payment meters would cut off the supply if householders fell behind with payments, and so there could be a lot of disconnections.

"The use of prepayment devices will be targeted at low-income households, particularly those which have incurred arrears," he said.

United Utilities admit that it is poor families who are most likely to have the meters fitted.

But a spokesman said householders could have them removed if they wanted and that water would be kept running if there was a risk to public health.

Councillor Alice Thornber said: "When a mother living in bad housing with limited finance is disconnected from her use of water, this can only lead to more anxiety and stress.

"Water pre-payment devices are about to increase suffering and ill health in our children."

The council claims that disconnections could rise from the current 6.3 per 10,000 households to 2,140 per 10,000.

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