Thousands of households in Lancashire urged to keep boiling water as tests on supply continue
Hundreds of thousands of people in Lancashire have been warned to continue boiling tap water.
United Utilities first issued the advice last Thursday after tests at one of its water treatment plants discovered traces of the microscopic bug cryptosporidium, which can cause sickness and diarrhoea.
It said it was making "good progress" in tackling the problem which it maintained posed a "very low" health risk but the precaution needed to stay in place.
The affected households cover a large area of Lancashire including Blackpool, Preston, Chorley and the Fylde coast.
United Utilities is advising customers to boil their water and then let it cool for all drinking, food preparation and teeth brushing
People can continue to use tap water without boiling for general domestic purposes such as bathing, flushing toilets or washing clothes.
A multi-agency meeting will take place with Public Health England (PHE) later to decide on the criteria to lift the notice.
An investigation into how the parasite found its way into the water system is ongoing.