Significant water works will be required around Gretna

Tory MP David Mundell said after meeting with Scottish Water that the solution would be a new reservoir at Kirkpatrick Fleming.

The company said that was just one of a number of measures required with no detailed costings yet available.

Scottish Water confirmed it was in discussions with the local council to prioritise works in the region.

"Scottish Water told us that they have the solution to the problem of low pressure, it requires a new holding reservoir to be constructed near Kirkpatrick Fleming and the cost of this is estimated at �1m," said Mr Mundell.

"We cannot simply stand by and see development stifled in the Gretna area simply because of lack of action or investment."

'Detailed costings'

A spokesman for Scottish Water said the �1m was only a base guide to costs.

"It could be a lot more - we have not done detailed costings on the requirements for that project," he said.

He added that there could be many other works to be carried out in the area but there were no immediate plans to start on the project.