Underground streams could fill Cleobury Mortimer wells

Underground streams could be diverted to provide water for historic wells in Cleobury Mortimer which have been dry for nearly a year, it was claimed today.

Investigations are ongoing into why the wells, which provided a clean source of water in the town for many years, have dried up.

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

Councillor Hainsworth said: "We haven't found out what's happened, the water table might have dropped, or we've got diversion. There is water down there but it's not going where it used to."

He said there was a possibility a second spring they had found could be diverted to the wells.

Investigations into the wells have led to the closure of a footpath - due to fears an outbuilding next to the path could collapse.

The footpath off Lower Street, next to the town's historic water source, has been blocked off for the past week after it was noticed bricks were on the verge of falling down.

Councillor Hainsworth said he believed the footpath would be closed for some time to allow repairs to be carried out.

He said they had spotted the problem while inspecting the area around the wells. The exact cost and extent of the work is not yet known.

Councillor Hainsworth said: "A group of us were in the area as part of the investigation into the wells when my fellow councillor Sean Thorogood looked up and noticed about 14 bricks on the wall were at an angle and looked like they were about to fall."