A FAMILY has been told their water supply contains almost 30 times the legal limit of lead.

Paul Kirkman say he and his partner Donna Higson and their two children will now seek blood tests amid fears for their health.

In May, the family noticed black particles in the water. United Utilities took samples, and advised the family to ask that the service pipes to their Heaton home be renewed by Bolton At Home, the organisation that manages the borough's council houses.

Tests showed the water sample contained around 29 times the legal limit of 25 micrograms.

A letter to the family from United Utilities said: "Current water quality standards say that the amount of lead in drinking water should not be more than 25 micrograms per litre.

"Unfortunately we found the sample of water we took from your property on 8 June 2004 contained 719.6 micrograms of lead per litre."

The letter says that the lead must have entered the water as a result of "contact with domestic plumbing" and points out that the service pipe to the property is made of lead.

United Utilities has already replaced pipes in the street, but it is the responsibility of Bolton at Home to replace the pipes within the boundaries of the house.

Mr Kirkman, aged 37, of Jedburgh Avenue, reported the problem immediately. But he says that after two months he is still waiting for the pipes to be replaced - and has just been told that work cannot be carried out until the end of this month.

Mr Kirkman said: "I'm worried sick. Surely something like this should be dealt with straight away?

"I don't want to wait another few weeks so that my children can drink even more of the water.

"I have seen the children drinking from the tap when the weather has been warm, although I have told them not to do it. My son has been sent home sick from school, and I'm worried it's because of this.

"We are spending a fortune on bottled water."

A spokesman for United Utilities said: "The family have been advised that the levels of lead in their water is higher than expected and they have received a standard letter advising them to replace the pipes in their property."

A spokesman for Bolton at Home said this was the only complaint they had received regarding water lead content.

She added: "We have already been working with United Utilities to identify properties with lead pipe work.

"As a result of this incident, we will have the lead content in the water checked by United Utilities and take any necessary action. We shall be speaking to United Utilities this week with a view to carrying out a survey at the earliest opportunity."