MORE than 100 residents have signed a petition calling for their former water supply to be reinstated amid claims that their current supply is unusable.

As part of a £1.7m scheme to improve 37,000km of water mains, utility firm Kenton began working in Ludworth, near Durham, on behalf of Northumbrian Water, in October.

Residents received letters telling them that instead of receiving their water supply from Sherburn Hill as usual, it would be coming from Thornley.

After initially being told that the "rezoning" would end in March, they have now learned that it will continue until the summer.

Michael Chapman, 57, of Thornton Close, Ludworth, said the water quality had fallen dramatically.

He said: "Our normal water supply is very soft water, but the supply from Thornley is very hard water.

"It looks like an oil slick when I make a cup of tea and people are going out and buying water.

"I know at least four people who are taking a plastic container to fill up outside the village."

He added that his daughter, who lives in Thornley, had to replace her kettle six or seven times a year because of the build-up of limescale.

Mr Chapman, who is unemployed due to a disability, said he was having to spend more than £3 a week on filters.

He said: "Myself and other people have got on to the water board and they keep saying to everyone who has rung up that they are the only one who is calling.

"I have just got a water bill and I am going to withhold paying it.

"I think others might follow suit - it is the only thing we have got to fight with."

Mr Chapman has placed a petition at Ludworth post office, and currently has more than 100 signatures.

A spokeswoman for Northumbrian Water said: "We have taken water from a different area to cause as little disruption as possible.

"We carry out regular checks and it is of no less quality.

"We will be quite happy to send one of our inspectors to check the customer's supply."