DRIPPING taps could soon be a thing of the past in Worcestershire and Herefordshire as Severn Trent Water launches a blitz on water leaks.

The company has drafted in its very own team of washer warriors to wipe out worn washers and banish dripping taps in the area for good.

It comes after a recent survey suggested 11 per cent of homes across the Midlands have a dripping tap. The study also showed 9.2 million litres of water could be wasted each week because of the problem.

This is the equivalent of almost one million toilet flushes or 84,000 bath tubs of water that is being wasted each week, just because of worn-out washers.

Now, as part of the battle to drive down leakage, the warriors - armed with spanners and wrenches - will be out encouraging people to repair offending taps. With washers in hand, they are aiming to reach the 48 per cent of customers who admitted not knowing how to change a washer or repair a dripping tap.

Severn Trent's water regulations manager Ian Mitchell said: "If 11 per cent of customers have a dripping tap, it means potentially 330,000 homes across the Midlands could each be wasting up to four litres of water a day. That means a staggering 9.2 million litres each week that are dripping down the drain.

"That's why we're calling people to action to change those washers and save precious water."

Severn Trent is challenging people to become washer warriors. The initiative is the start of Severn Trent's Be Smart campaign to highlight leakage, sewer blockages and water conservation.

HOW TO MAKE THE CHANGE

l Ensure the water supply is turned off and the relevant section of the system has been drained.

l Remove the tap body to expose washer seating.

l Replace worn washer with new one.

l Replace the tap body.

l Restore the water supply and then check for any sign of leakage.