Dozens of schools sent pupils home on Wednesday after tests showed a bacteria in tap water.

However, county councillor Joan Kirkbride, cabinet member for children and young people, announced the water supplier would be delivering bottled water to schools affected by the news.

Councillor Kirkbride (Con, Bugbrooke) said: "We've been in discussions with Anglian Water and they have agreed to supply bottled water to our schools so they can open.

"Obviously, we had to close because we can't allow children's health to be in danger. They need to have water to drink during the day.

"It isn't long until the end of term so we've only got about two weeks to worry about it although that's long enough but we must keep our schools open."

The last-minute decision to close some schools for the day left working parents struggling to find care for their youngsters.

Angela Mace, a registered childminder from Harpole where the primary school was shut, said: "I've had eight children today and normally, during the day, I have just two.

"I'm hoping they will be back at school tomorrow. When you're in the holidays you're prepared but I wasn't prepared for this.

"The parents are going to incur the higher childcare costs for the extra hours."

Other childminders have stocked up on bottled water to stay open in case more schools were forced to close.

Lisa Johnson, a childminder from Grange Park, said: "My fridge is stocked up with water and juice for the children. I've only got one today with two after school but I can have five under eights and as many over eight as I like."

Click here to read about the bottled water shortage.

Click here to read more about the closure of schools.

Click here to read more about Cryptosporidium.

Click here to read more about how pets could be affected.

Click here to read a Cryptosporidium Q and A.

Click here to read a police warning.

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