ENGINEERS are continuing to investigate the cause of a major landslide in a Darwen woodland area.


United Utilities has been working to connect emergency power to a pumping station in Sunnyhurst Woods after electricity wires were swept away by a landslide.

Water tankers have been used for the past couple of days to keep 6,000 Darwen taps flowing, but water supply is now fully secure.

With high winds forecast, trees have also been left unstable and footpaths will remain closed until further notice for safety reasons.

Engineers are keen to assure residents that the Earnsdale Reservoir nearby is ‘completely safe’.

A spokesperson for United Utilities said: “We still do not know the cause of the landslide.We would like to assure residents that Earnsdale Reservoir is secure, it has been inspected.

“High winds are likely to affect the trees so we are asking people to keep out of that area of the woods.

“We are still carrying out assessments but we have totally secured the area and 6,000 customers who are fed from the reservoir have now had their supply secured.
“This will not be a quick fix, it is going to take some time, but we will keep people updated.”