Concern over burst pipe flooding during drought
Kate Bradbrook/BBCLandowners have raised concerns about a leaking water pipe flooding while the UK is in a period of drought and hosepipe bans are in place in many areas.
Will Fenn, who lives on a farm in Kings Cliffe, in Northamptonshire, got in touch with the BBC to ask why a water company had not fixed repeated leaks from its pipe, while still asking customers to conserve water.
The issue came to light when a neighbouring farmer's combine harvester began to sink in part of a field that had become saturated.
Anglian Water, responsible for the pipeline, said hot weather resulted in an increase in burst mains or leaks, and it was working hard to ensure customers' water supplies were protected.
Fenn told the BBC he first became aware of the issue when his neighbour, farmer Peter Howard, told him he thought his combine harvester was faulty.
"Then he [Howard] realised the wheels were actually slipping because they were going through this mud... the combine was sinking," said Fenn.
"They were lucky to get through without getting completely bogged down."
Kate Bradbrook/BBCPart of farmer Peter Howard's field now resembles a pond, and he reported the water leak to Anglian Water on 18 July.
Although the company sent someone a few hours later, he said "nothing has happened" to resolve the issue.
"It's just flooding the field and running straight down to the dyke," he said.
If the situation was not rectified soon, Howard said: "We won't be able to use this land.
"This was growing peas last year, it will go into wheat this year - we won't be able to drill this, because we can't get near it... it's just flooded.
"It's a bigger job than Anglian Water thinks it is, because it's such a big pipe.
He said he had now been given a "deadline date to do the job, which is 31 August which is six... weeks from the point of finding the leak".
"I'm worried that they've not come out," he added.
"They're telling us that we need to save water, we're in a drought situation, hosepipe ban - but nothing's being done."
Kate Bradbrook/BBCMore from Northamptonshire
Fenn said another leak had been found in a nearby wood on his own land and he said he was concerned there could be yet more to be discovered.
"When you think of the levels that the reservoirs have gone down, how everybody's telling you to save water... but the water companies, they don't seem to feel any responsibility to take more care of it," he said.
He described the situation as "just crisis".
An Anglian Water spokesperson said: "During periods of hot weather, the high temperatures can cause ground movement that results in an increase of burst water mains or leaks.
"Our teams continue working hard through the hot weather to prioritise repairs that are having the greatest impact on customers' water supplies and those resulting in the highest water loss.
"We'd like to thank our customers for their patience while we respond to the challenges created by this period of exceptionally warm weather."
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