WATER watchdog the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) called on United Utilities to hand out swift compensation to customers affected by the boil water notice.

The water supplier lifted a notice to boil drinking water in some parts of Chorley on Thursday, but the advice remains in place in Abbey Village, Mellor and Mellor Brook.

The advice was first issued on August 6 after United Utilities discovered a parasite at a treatment works.

Andy White, senior policy manager at CCWater, said: “We are pleased that drinking water supplies should begin to return to normal over the coming days. It has been a very frustrating three weeks for customers but safeguarding public health should always be the top priority.

“Once the boil water notice has been lifted we expect the company to honour its pledge to compensate all affected customers.

“This should be done swiftly and without hassle for customers.

“We are in discussions with United Utilities to ensure its approach to compensation is fair and reflects the significant disruption that has been caused to customers.”

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle also called on the firm to to give a full account of how some customers have had to boil their drinking water for more than three weeks.

Mr Hoyle said: “I am glad that United Utilities are now in a position to safely begin lifting the boil notice.

“I appreciate that public safety is paramount and that the company took the action it felt necessary, I thank those front line employees who have been working to resolve fix this problem.

“Sadly, some vulnerable people and institutions have found the last few weeks a very difficult time and I have had to intervene for specific constituents.

“In due course I expect United Utilities to give a full account of what went wrong and to hear how it will be prevented in the future.

“I look forward to hearing from how United Utilities will be compensating customers.”