THOUSANDS of people in Blackburn and Darwen were believed to be risking lead poisoning from their water.
An estimated 15,000 homes, built before 1975 were thought to be at risk, including 3,000 of the council's own houses.
A massive public awareness campaign was being launched by Blackburn council and North West Water to highlight contamination problems. Lead levels in one home were a thousand times the recommended safe limit.
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