A PENSIONER who escaped a landslide by inches has vowed that he and his wife will not be moved from their Worcester home.

Severn Trent engineers are investigating what caused a large section of John Cotterill's back garden to fall into a brook.

The 79-year-old's wall and fence have already disappeared, his shed is on the brink of collapse and cracks have appeared in his garage - just three feet from his bungalow in Bracken Close, St John's.

The retired engineer has been advised to find alternative accommodation, but he is determined to stay in his home of 18 years.

This morning, water was still gushing from beneath his property and into Laugherne Brook - a problem he first reported to Severn Trent on Sunday, December 21.

More than three weeks later, he still does not know what cause it, and wants quicker action from Severn Trent.

"All the waiting, without knowing what's happening, is really stressful for myself and my wife Lorna," he said.

"The shed could disappear any minute, I've been told the garage is likely to be demolished because of the subsidence, and we're just hoping our home will remain safe."

He was in his shed when he first heard a loud rumbling noise on Saturday, December 20, and discovered he had nearly been caught in the landslide.

"I was left staring at a sheer drop, just inches from my shed. The sound of that surge is something I don't think I'll ever forget," he said.

Neighbours have been checking on the couple and storing their belongings.

A Severn Trent spokesman said today that everything was being done to help the Cotterills.

At midnight, last night, the mains to four streets in the area were turned off and drained, and turned back on again at 4.30am, in a bid to find the source of the leak.

Several small leaks were found in the piping, but was still leaking into his garden when they were repaired.

"All the indication's are that the leak isn't connected to the main water supply," she added.

"The problem could be due to a nearby tip, which might have a water drainage problem."

Further tests were being carried out, and results should be available on Wednesday, she said.