United Utilities has completed a £4.1 million scheme to connect villages in south west Cumbria to the sewer system for the first time.

Construction manager Derek Fryer said the new system for Silecroft, near Millom, would be a huge benefit to local people and the environment.

"It's possible that private sewer systems like septic tanks were not performing terribly well in Silecroft leading to evidence of pollution in nearby Silecroft Beck. Hopefully our new system will put paid to that as well as giving people the convenience of a hassle-free service."

Building Silecroft's new sewer system included installing three kilometres of new sewer pipe, crossing a railway line, constructing two underground pumping stations and creating a brand new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment works

It is the latest of three new mains sewer projects to be built by United Utilities in south west Cumbria in the last two years. The others were at Hycemoor and Bootle Station.

"It's been a big job but it means that the 80 homes and businesses in Silecroft now have the chance to connect to the mains instead of having to rely on old and expensive to maintain private systems like septic tanks, which can be bad for the environment," said project manager John Parr.

As a thank you to local people for their patience, United Utilities and its partner Daniel Contractors donated £2,000 to help upgrade the village play area.