Frustration as street left without water for 11 days

A woman says her father's life has been made even harder during his cancer treatment by his street being left without water for 11 days.

His property is one of five houses on Mere Road in Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire, currently without running water due to a leak in a nearby pipe.

Amy Cox, 39, said the issue had left her father Michael struggling to stay clean and live in a sterile environment, two things that were essential due to his chemotherapy.

Severn Trent said the cause of the water supply issue was a leak on a private supply pipe - not related to their network - and it had spoken with Melton Borough Council who were "taking responsibility" to resolve the issue.

Cox told the BBC her parents, Michael and Jane Smith, had been without water since 21 July.

Michael is currently undergoing chemotherapy and his daughter said the loss of water had added to the stress surrounding his treatment.

"We have got to keep him clean, we've got to keep him hydrated," she said.

"The medication he's on dehydrates him so we need cool flowing water that's a constant and it's just not available.

"I've had to take him to my house in the village to have a bath. I'm having to wash my parents' clothes.

"I feel sorry for them. I don't know what else to do. "

Cox said she had been in conversation with Severn Trent Water over the issue, but the family felt like "piggies in the middle".

"You ring Severn Trent and you get told you'll get a call back but hear nothing," she said.

"We've been given bottles of water, but that's all we've had. Nothing else, there has been no other support whatsoever.

"It's back and forth between Severn Trent and the council."

John Barkworth, who also lives on the street, said the situation was "hugely upsetting" due to his son relying on medical intervention at home for health conditions.

"To be honest we're right on the boundary line because, without running water to the house, he should really be in hospital," he said.

"It's not very nice obviously when you are struggling to flush toilets and you know that it becomes ever more difficult and drains start to smell.

"This then means you get increased insect behaviour around your houses."

A spokesperson for Severn Trent said it was "sorry to hear about the water supply issues for residents on Mere Road.

"Our teams visited to understand what was happening and found the cause is a leak on the private joint supply pipe, not related to the Severn Trent network.

"We have spoken with the council, who are taking responsibility to get this fixed and the issue resolved as quickly as possible for the customers," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Melton Borough Council said it recognised the inconvenience caused.

"We are aware of an ongoing water supply issue affecting some households in Waltham on the Wolds," they said.

"We have been working with Severn Trent and our contractors and have now identified the source of the problem.

"We recognise the significant impact this issue is having on those affected, and resolving it as quickly as possible remains a priority.

"Our officers remain in regular contact with affected tenants, providing support where needed.

"We will continue to work with our contractors to help bring the issue to a resolution as quickly as possible."

Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.