A new borehole and pump has brought clean tap water

Residents in the hamlet of Kirknewton, close to the Scottish border, are without mains tap water because of their isolated location.

They have been forced to boil drinking water for five years when pumping equipment failed.

But a government grant has helped provide a new borehole and pump for the village's several dozen homes.

A �16,000 grant from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has helped the village, which is high up in the Cheviot Hills near Wooler.

The Defra project is a big relief to villager Katie Cox, who lives in the village with her husband and two young children, Eliza, 21 months, and Bridget, four.

She said: "Boiling up water so it was safe for my daughters did become a very tedious task.

'Big difference'

"We constantly had kettles and saucepans on the go and there was also the fear of running out of water, especially in the hot summers, which, with endless nappies to wash, was a little daunting.

"We have always loved living in Kirknewton, but the water problem did make life difficult."

Evelyn Pendleton, who is in her 80s, added: "We do live in an isolated community here and getting access to good, clean, water has been a problem for years.

"I am delighted that the problem has finally been sorted. It will make a big difference to our quality of life here in Kirknewton."

A Defra spokesman said: "It may sound like the kind of thing you would experience in a less-developed country but this has been the situation faced by villagers in Kirknewton.

"Now that's all changing thanks to the Defra grant and water has been running pure since work on the borehole and pump project was completed. We are delighted the project has proved so successful."

Parish Council chairman Edward Brown added: "It is making a big difference not only to villagers, but to visitors who regularly come to Kirknewton to walk in the beautiful surrounding countryside.

They can now be assured of clean water on tap at our village hall which has traditionally proved a welcome refuge for hikers."