Cotswold village told to avoid tap water due to high lead levels

Dave Minchin, who has lived in the village for 20 years, said he was “pretty worried” due to his eight-year-old grandson in the house.

“We don’t know the long-term effects,” he said.

“We don’t want them drinking if it’s contaminated with lead.”

Patricia Foulds, who has lived in the area for 18 years, said: “Since we’ve been drinking the water we’ve been feeling sick – running to the bathroom every five minutes.”

She said Thames Water had told her she could continue to drink tap water as the water in her pipes had less lead.

“They said just run the water for two to three minutes,” she added.

She said she had not been given bottled water.