MORE than 11 miles of Victorian water mains in Walthamstow will be replaced as part of a £6.7million scheme.

Thames Water will spend the next 20 months replacing the pipes, some of which are 150 years old.

The work will take place in Forest Road, Markhouse Road, Lea Bridge Road, and the Warwick Reservoirs near Coppermill Lane.

Tim Owens, project manager, said: "The freezing weather in January - the coldest in 12 years - led to two-and-a-half times the number of water main bursts we'd normally expect across our supply area.

"In very cold conditions water cools to below five degrees celsius in our reservoirs before flowing into our pipes, making the aging cast iron contract and, in some cases, break.

"This scheme will help prevent this."

Despite being smaller than the Victorian pipes, the new pipes' smoother surface ensures there is no reduction in the amount of water flowing through and they are less likely to be damaged by soil corrosion and traffic vibrations.

A series of drop-in sessions for people to find out more will take place between 4.30pm and 6.30pm on March 10 at the Ferguson Centre, Low Hall Lane, Walthamstow, and 4.30pm and 6.30pm on March 11 at the Douglas Eyre Sports Centre in Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow.