Temperature in March on Saturday morning

THIRTY two people dialled 999 over the weekend after burst pipes flooded their Cambridgeshire homes – but the fire service was not amused.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue insisted they can only respond to incidents of burst pipes where there is a hazard from flood water affecting the electricity supply or where vulnerable people are at risk.

Teri Seaber, group manager for the combined fire control, said: “With an increasing demand for help during the snowy and icy period, it’s essential that residents only call us when there is a genuine risk to life.

“We strongly recommend residents know where to locate and how to isolate their water and electrical supplies so that we don’t divert valuable resources from our primary functions - fighting fires and responding to collisions and other life-threatening emergencies.”

She said that residents who are experiencing burst pipes or electrical problems caused by the cold snap are advised to isolate their water and electrical supply, and contact a local trader.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service received 32 emergency calls over the weekend from householders expecting officers to come and fix their leaks. The highest concentration of calls was on Saturday morning.