Meg Dew News Today

Families on Raddicombe Close in Brixham, South Devon were repeatedly assured that their water was safe to drink despite reporting that it had an unpleasant taste and was causing sickness.

Locals in Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and north-east Paignton in Devon were all told to boil water as a precaution.

The mystery illness is believed to be linked to cryptosporidium, a parasitic bug that that can enter water supplies via contaminated faecal matter.

Residents living close to the Hillhead Reservoir near Brixham, South Devon, were warned by South West Water workers they will have to be switched onto alternative sources of water.