A WORCESTERSHIRE couple are challenging Severn Trent after a water leak has been left to flow for more than a week.

John Smith and his wife Patricia reported the leak on the A44 near Crown East on Thursday, September 26.

"It's frustrating seeing the water running away and Severn Trent not interested in doing anything about it," said Mr Smith, who lives in Crown East, near Rushwick.

"They're very quick to point out how householders can save money, like sorting out dripping taps, but they don't do anything themselves."

Mrs Smith noticed the leak as she travelled to work 11 days ago.

When she returned home she tried to contact Severn Trent's Leakline to report it.

"We had a job getting through," said Mrs Smith. "You have to press all sorts of buttons.

"It's about time they came out and did something about it. There's a fair bit bubbling about."

Mrs Smith says she tried several times to get through to the Leakline, before giving up and asking her husband to take over.

He also experienced difficulty.

"I tried several times, but when you're still waiting for someone to pick up after five minutes, it's long enough.

"In the end, I logged on to their website and e-mailed them.

"They replied, saying someone would be coming out to look at it, but water is still pouring down the main road."

Severn Trent Water said a member of staff had been out to the A44 at Crown East but had not found any leak.

"We visited the site on Thursday, September 26," said a spokeswoman.

"Something's clearly not right so we are going to contact them again. Someone will be on to it immediately.

"We apologise for the time it took them to report it, but unfortunately, during peak times there can be delays because we deal with such a large volume of calls."