INTEREST-FREE loans will soon be on tap to help householders replace poison lead pipes.

Blackburn and Darwen are among the country's lead blackspots, with shock levels of up to 1,000 times the recommended limit discovered in homes in a survey five years ago.

An estimated 12,000 homes are still at risk from ageing service pipes, for while the water supply is lead-free, problems occur when lead is dissolved from pipes into tap water, or when particles of lead break off.

Children, pregnant mums and bottle-fed babies are most at risk. Studies show that low levels are deposited in the bones and teeth of children and some experts believe there are links between lead and children's mental health.

After pressure from Blackburn Council, North West Water has announced a scheme to allow householders to spread the cost of replacement over a two-year period. Loans averaging around £400 per property will meet the cost of replacing service pipes from the boundary stop tap to the kitchen tap, while the water company will pay to replace communication pipes leading from the main to the boundary stop.

The council has recently doubled its annual replacement budget to £100,000. Housing director Phil Richards said the NWW scheme would also be open to council tenants, who would not have to pay for the work as the council would bear the cost as landlord. Housing chairman Coun Andy Kay, welcomed the plan, but was disappointed the water company had set the repayment period at two years, instead of the five suggested by the council.

North West Water's mobile visitor centre will be in Darwen town centre on Monday, May 20 and Blackburn Town centre on Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 23.

Customers can call a lead replacement helpline on 01772 207 290 for more information.

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