CONTAMINATION fears over foul-tasting water have forced villagers to turn off the taps and take to the bottle.

Residents in Caunsall have reported a "burning" sensation from their water amid fears it has been contaminated. Chris Nicholls and Carole Lewis turn their noses up at the "disgusting" tap water in Caunsall.

Now they are refusing to drink from the tap and are buying in bottled supplies.

Ironically, the fears have surfaced in the same week water in the West Midlands was dubbed the best quality ever - so good you could bottle it.

Parish councillor Carole Lewis said she had received at least 10 complaints about foul, disgusting water.

Villagers have contacted Severn Trent Water but claimed they had not received replies.

She said: "We need answers fast. There is great concern our water has been contaminated and we are not getting any feedback from Severn Trent.

"I do not drink tap water because I am allergic to chlorine but my mother tried some and said it took 10 minutes to get the taste out of her mouth.

"She said it was hard to describe the disgusting taste but it was a burning sensation."

David Oakley, of New Road, said he and neighbours had been forced to buy water for three weeks.

He said: "It is quite a distinctive taste, very horrible. It's like an overdose of chlorine.

"People who have complained to Severn Trent have been told they are the only ones to complain but I know of at least three."

Severn Trent admitted to the Shuttle/Times & News yesterday there had been problems with chlorine levels in the water but it was not unsafe.

Spokesman Caroline Hosie explained the water source for the Caunsall area had changed from a bore hole to being piped in from Birmingham.

The change from hard to soft water involved chlorine being pumped into the system but there had been problems with chlorinator machines at Frankley Treatment Works which meant the chlorine flow into the water had not been regular.

She said: "We are looking into this and hope to clear it up as soon as possible. However, the levels are not unsafe otherwise the whole of Birmingham would have gone down with something.

"People are bound to taste the difference between hard and soft water. We recommend they fill a jug of water and chill it. They should find the taste improves."

Cookley district councillor Chris Nicholls, whose ward covers Caunsall, said he was "cheesed off" Severn Trent had not returned his calls.

He added: "I think it is disgraceful people are having to buy water in Britain in 2002.

"There seems to be more to this than meets the eye and I have contacted the county public health authority to find out what is going on."

Meanwhile, Dillons One-Stop store in Bridge Road, Cookley, has seen a surge in demand for bottled water.

Assistant manager Becky Berry said many customers had complained about the taste of their tap water.

She said: "We have had an increase in sales but I'm not sure whether that's due to the water problem or our special offers.

"A lot of our customers have been talking about the problem and I know many have bought water filters."

Yesterday the Drinking Water Inspectorate stated the West Midlands had the best drinking water ever.

It said Severn Trent had the second highest compliance levels in the country at 99.91 per cent - well above the national average for meeting the stringent standards.