FOUL-tasting water in Cookley and Caunsall has been declared safe after an investigation.

Severn Trent Water said samples showed the water in the villages was not contaminated after a deluge of complaints from concerned householders.

And the company has apologised for not informing villagers it had changed the water source from hard to soft water.

Spokesman Caroline Hosie said: "Our tests have shown there is nothing wrong with the water.

"It seems there must have been a major change in the taste for people who have been used to drinking hard water over many years.

"We will be writing to our customers to inform them of the changes. We should have done it sooner and we apologise for that."

She added the company would continue to test samples.

The Shuttle/Times & News revealed two weeks ago villagers had stopped drinking tap water because of contamination fears.

They reported everything from milk-like substances pouring from the taps to a burning sensation in their mouths after drinking.

Severn Trent said the source for the area had been changed from a bore hole to being piped in from Birmingham.

It revealed there had been problems with the chlorinator machines at Frankley Treatment Works, Birmingham, which meant chlorine flow had been irregular.

Wyre Forest district councillor for Cookley, Chris Nicholls, said he was not satisfied with Severn Trent's response.

He added: "I think Severn Trent has not been very proactive. It should have told people their water supplies were being changed.

"People have also had to think about changing their settings on dishwashers and washing machines because of the change from hard water.

"The tests may have given the water the all-clear but it still tastes foul and people are still drinking bottled water.

"I am not happy about this. There has got to be something wrong if people are still complaining."