Up to 59,000 households, businesses and schools in Ludlow, Cleobury Mortimer and nearby villages today lost their water supplies because of a mechanical breakdown.

Severn Trent Water said the problem occurred at the Trimpley Water Treatment Works, near Bewdley.

A spokeswoman for Ludlow School said there were still supplies to the building but that youngsters were sent home at 1pm as a precaution.

Severn Trent Water spokeswoman Kate Cox said: “We’ve got a problem at Trimpley Water Treatment Works, near Bewdley, which supplies water into Ludlow, Cleobury Mortimer and other nearby areas.

“There is a mechanical breakdown, which means we can’t pump water into the system.”

Mrs Cox added that the problem was spotted last night by engineers and the treatment plant was closed so that repairs could be carried out.

She said: “There are around 59,000 customers affected, including businesses, homes and schools.

“During the course of this morning people have been losing their water supplies or getting very low pressure.”

Mrs Cox added that Severn Trent had drafted in six tankers to take extra water supplies to Prospect Place, in Knowbury, where there is a direct feed into the water network.

She added: “We anticipate the problem will last well into the afternoon but as soon as we can get Trimpley back up and running again, it will start to recover.

“We apologise to all our customers who have been affected.

“We are working flat out to get the water back on.”