Experts looking at why Cleobury Mortimer's wells are dry

Experts have been called in to solve the mystery of why the wells and natural water source which formed the historical foundation of Cleobury Mortimer have dried up again.

The first settlements at Cleobury Mortimer were built on the basis of a clean and consistent supply of water in the area.

But the ornamental pool in the centre of the town, which was supplied by the source, has run dry.

Geologists and a water diviner visited the site last week in a bid to find the cause of the problem and it is hoped the supply will be restored in the near future.

The water source has been traced to an ancient well under the town's graveyard on the opposite side of High Street, and is believed to have been in use as a drinking water supply up until the 1940s.

Geoff Hainsworth, a member of Cleobury Mortimer Parish Council, said the water supply first stopped running in October 2009 but had started again only to run dry within weeks.

He said: "It's historically the basis and centre of Cleobury Mortimer and there are still remains of an archway and the pump works from when it was in regular use.

"In more recent years the water source has supplied an ornamental pool but that's run dry, too.

"We had a water diviner visit us on Friday who has some ideas to investigate further and a Shropshire Council geologist has also taken a look.

"We still don't know what's caused the issue but we are doing what we can to get it sorted out.

"We are doing our best to restore what has been a big part of Cleobury's history going back hundreds of years."