AN ELDERLY couple have suffered from the effects of a water leak for three weeks.

Kathleen and Leslie Pick, of Eastwood Old Road, Leigh, have criticised water companies Anglian Water and Essex and Suffolk Water for not acting on their complaints and for wasting water by leaving a leak so long.

However, neither company is taking responsibility for the leak.

Mrs Pick, 77, said: "The water is coming from a drain right outside our house, under the path and into our garden. It runs right down the side of our house. It is running constantly. It's such a waste of water.

"It's going to spoil our crazy paving and is making a mess of our garden. It will only get worse as it rains."

Mr Pick, 78, who is in a wheelchair, said: "It's been like this for three weeks.

"We have called Anglian Water and Essex and Suffolk Water. They come out to look at it, says it's not their problem. We just don't know where it's coming from."

Anglian Water, which deals with sewage, says it is not one of their drains. Essex and Suffolk Water claims it is not a water supply problem.

A spokeswoman said: "We attended on the day we were called about it, on July 3, and established it wasn't our main or our sewer."

They have suggested it may be a blocked highway gully and the local authority is responsible for its maintenance.

Southend Council was unavailable for comment.