The fight to stop borehole water being used in West Cumbria is being ramped up as campaigners push to have the water supply independently tested.

A fundraising page has been set up to raise £2,000 which will pay for water samples to be taken and sent to an independent company.

There was public outrage in June 2017 when United Utilities began mixing water from Ennerdale with Egremont borehole water. A petition was launched which gathered thousands of signatures.

Many residents complained of a raft of health problems including itchy skin, mouth ulcers and upset stomachs.

Last month United Utilities applied to continue its licence to draw water from boreholes in Egremont which was strongly opposed by those against the scheme.

Now campaigners are once again asking for the public's support and are calling for people to donate on the fundraising page to help fund the water tests.

Mark Jennings, of the campaign group, Save Our Water Services, said: "We need to get this test done as soon as possible. We have already raised over a third of our target so it's going well."

He also urged people to take precautions by boiling their drinking water in a saucepan rather than a kettle, which he says will "kill what's in it".

Mr Jennings said people continue to get in touch via the group's Facebook page to report problems.

"The main thing is the smell of chlorine. A lot of people have been away and their symptoms have gone then within 24 hours of coming home, they are back again."

He added: "There is absolutely no need for these boreholes. Look at all the rain we are getting. It's not making any sense whatsoever.

"Hopefully we can get these tests done and prove what's in the water."

A spokesperson for United Utilities said: “We carry out regular monitoring of water supplies at our accredited laboratories and the results show that West Cumbria’s water supply meets the high standards required by the independent regulator, the Drinking Water Inspectorate.”

A spokesman for the Drinking Water Inspectorate said: "We are aware of campaigning in the West Cumbria area regarding a partial change of source for the drinking water supply to include a proportion of the water from boreholes. When the change occurred, and in response to consumers’ concerns, the Drinking Water inspectorate commissioned independent samples of water from the boreholes and from the treatment works and have published the results.

"The Drinking Water Inspectorate continues to scrutinise the results of further samples taken regularly from the boreholes and from consumer’s taps in the area. None of the results have indicated any issues with the quality of the water although it is noted to be slightly ‘harder’ in character."

To donate to the fundraising page, go to: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gilliancolin-burns