ANGRY residents were literally left high and dry when they were stuck without water for a week - and were told by United Utilities chiefs that they could not fix the problem.
The nightmare started for people living on Rose Street, Accrington, last Thursday when their supply was cut off after one of the houses developed a leak in its pipe.
Since then, all the properties from 3 to 17 have been without water and residents are anxiouslyhoping for a solution to the problem before Christmas.
At first they contacted United Utilities which sent a repair man out - only to tell them that it was not the responsibility of the water company to fix the pipe.
Since then, they have tried Hyndburn Council's environmental health department, but have again met with no luck.
They were told by United Utilities that they could hire a plumber to fix it themselves, which would cost £450 split between the nine households.
Resident Mohammed Islam, 47, said: "It is terrible as we have no water at all. We are having to borrow it from neighbours. Everyone is up in arms about it.
"They sent a plumber out to fix it but he said there was nothing he could do. No-one wants to help us."
Another resident, Beverley Waters, said: "When they told us they couldn't help us, they brought bottles of water for us to use, but no-one has done anything since.
"We were told we could hire a plumber to fix it but the leak is at Number 3 and we have been unable to contact the people who live there.
"I have two children, Orion, who is 11, and Evie, who is 18 months old. My son hasn't been able to go to school as he is unable to have a proper wash and my daughter is still in nappies.
"We need water to wash her - how are we supposed to cope?"
A spokesman for United Utilities said: "There is a leak on the supply pipe which connects the water supply to Number 3, but the pipe is what we call a common supply pipe.
"That means the responsibility to repair it lies with the residents, not with United Utilities, since it is not on our network.
"We have been to have a look at the leak and have passed on the contact details of a plumber to them."
