The lead level in drinking water at a couple's home is more than 100 times greater than the UK safety standard.

Retired textile fitter Gordon Brooksbank, 67, and his wife Kathleen, a 62 year-old nurse, are awaiting the outcome of blood tests before they dare drink tap water again at their semi-detached house.

A Yorkshire Water test revealed the drinking water contained 5,400 microgrammes of lead compared to the 50 microgrammes level accepted as the UK safety standard.

But the company says the problem is not in the mains but in the 70-year-old lead pipes to the couple's home in Moorlands Avenue, Oakworth.

The couple are now drinking bottled water supplied by Yorkshire Water, and Mr Brooksbank is preparing to have his lead pipe changed.

But he is not convinced the problem is his alone, and believes Yorkshire Water should carry out a thorough test in the area.

''When we saw the results of the test I was frightened to death. I thought 'My God that's very high','' said Mrs Brooksbank.

She had noticed particles in the water occasionally for about 12 months, but they had been more persistent in the last couple of months.

''We are both very anxious and are awaiting the blood tests. We don't know how it has affected us over the years,'' said Mr Brooksbank, who said they would continue to drink bottled water until a new pipe was fitted.

The couple's case has been taken up by Worth Valley Councillor Kris Hopkins, who has called on Yorkshire Water to investigate all supplies in the area.

He said: ''A lead pipe to someone's home does not come up with that high a reading. I think Yorkshire Water should take a series of samples from both ends of the village, work their way in and try to identify the problem."

He said there were other families in the area who were concerned.

A Yorkshire Water spokesman said they had carried out a thorough investigation and the problem was in the supply to the Brooksbank's home, not the mains.

Other properties in the area had been checked and there was no problem.

An environmental protection spokesman for Bradford council said an officer had visited the couple.

''We advised Mrs Brooksbank not to drink from the tap until further tests had been carried out by Yorkshire Water. YW has assured us the water is now back to normal,'' he said.

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