THE latest hi-tech ultra-violet light technology is being used to kill off the last traces of the bug infecting the Lancashire water supply to more than 300,000 homes.

But bosses at United Utilities can still give no date for ending the ‘boil water’ alert which has now been in place for 12 days.

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The company has repeated its promise to compensate customers in the affected area which includes Mellor, Mellor Brook, Abbey Village and the borough of Chorley.

Drinking water infected with the cryptosporidium parasite can cause vomiting diarrhoea and abdominal cramps, medics say.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has welcomed the move but said it came “far too late” and lessons must be learned.

He is urging United Utilities to have better contingency plans in future and promised to monitor closely its compensation arrangements to his constituents.

A United Utilities spokesman said yesterday: “The ‘boil water’ notice for parts of Lancashire remains in place and will do so for at least several days.

“The latest test and analysis show there is still a very small trace of the bug cryptosporidium in the water supply.

“We continue to ‘flush’ our network across Lancashire, and due to the work we have done so far we have a better understanding about how the traces of the bug are moving through the system.

“Because of this intelligence, we can now target the very small traces of the bug remaining in certain places by using ultra-violet technology to treat supplies – a method widely used in the water industry.

“We do appreciate how frustrating this is for our customers who continue to have to boil their water.

“All customers affected will be compensated for this inconvenience and we will be contacting them direct.”

The affected area covers a large swathe of Lancashire, including Preston, Blackpool and the Fylde coast.

Mr Evans said: “I hope lessons will be learnt from this outbreak.”