GOOD news for residents of Horwich as a burst water pipe has now been fixed.

The pipe in Crown Road had burst overnight and residents in Horwich and Blackrod have been using a water tanker provided by United Utilities.

Repairs to the leaking water main has now been fixed but water may not yet return for some time.

United Utilities confirmed: "Repairs to the leaking water main at the junction of Crown Lane and Vale Avenue are now complete.

"However, as this burst has affected a large area it may take a while for your water pressure to return to normal.

"Our engineers are currently charging the mains, this means the water pressure is being built up slowly within the pipework to help prevent further disruption.

"Thank you for your continued patience while we work to restore your supplies. We will update this message shortly, when the mains are fully charged."

Railton Hirst, a nearby resident affected by the burst and his six-year-old daughter Naysa had visited a water tanker provided by United Utilities this morning.

He said: ""United Utilities staff have been lovely and very helpful allowing us to draw water from the tankers.

"Tankers have been coming and going and I don't know how much water they have lost but I can imagine it being significant.

"There were a few families there when we went to get water, with sports bottles and things like that, but not that many."

He added: We've been round this morning with water bottles to get some straight from the tanker on Vale Coppice.

For the latest updates, visit the United Utilities information service here.