A PENSIONER who reported a burst water main outside her house has slammed workmen who resp-onded by dumping a pile of mud in her garden.

Pat Nelson, 68, criticised water supplier workmen after she claims they dug a hole in the road, mended the water main, but opened a garden gate and dumped a pile of earth on her property.

Mrs Nelson, who lives in a detatched bungalow in Whins Lane, Read, said she had complained several times to water supplier United Utilities since she noticed the unsightly mess on Thursday, but it was still there.

Today United Utilities apologised and said they would send out a team to deal with the problem.

Mrs Nelson said: "Last Tuesday I saw a flood of water coming down the road in front of my house, so I phoned United Utilities.

"They came out that night and dug a hole in the road then returned the next day to mend the problem and fill it in. But on Thursday I saw they'd left the road barriers in front of my house and a big pile of mud on my property.

"I phoned United Utilities to complain and they came the next day but took the barriers and left the pile.

"What's really annoying is the fact they opened the gate to dump it next to our two oil tanks. Our house doesn't have gas so our central heating is powered by oil.

"But we can't have any delivered because the gate they use is covered in a pile of mud. I've spoken to them several times and nothing has been done."

A spokeswoman for United Utilities said: "The site should have been left tidy, but for whatever reason, it appears it has not been on this occasion.

"It should have been tidied that day, or failing that, the next day.

"We will send a team round to investigate and tidy up if necessary."