A FAMILY who moved into their new home just a week ago found sand and dirt spewing from their taps instead of water.

Jane Gallo experienced her worst nightmare when her washing machine filled with mud in the middle of a whites wash.

The domestic drama came after contractors working on Swindon Council's Oxford Road cycleway scheme cut through a water main.

With water gushing from the hole, sand and grit backed up into the Gallo family's pipes and ended up into their bath, toilet and washing machine.

"I was so angry," said Mrs Gallo, 45, who had moved into the house exactly a week earlier with husband Salvatore, 48, and sons Frank, 16, and Ricky, 11.

"Everything was so nice here and then this happened.

"We weren't even supposed to move in here until the 13th, but the other buyers were pushing for it, and so we thought let's go for it."

Mrs Gallo was full of praise for Thames Water, which sent a plumber over to fix the problem at 11pm on Friday.

By 2am, he had removed a load of pipes clogged up with dirt, and left preparing to bill the water company for at least £500.

"Thames Water was very, very good," said Mrs Gallo, but added that she would be seeking compensation from the contractors.

"It ruined our evening, because we were going to go out to a party but had to stay in when this happened.

"I've also got a big bundle of washing that's been destroyed. There's no way I can put it through the machine again.

"I shall be telling the contractors that I'm not very pleased with them at all."

Thames Water spokesman Mike Brophy said 12 customers along Oxford Road had complained of disrupted supplies, but that water had been restored to every house except the Gallo residence by 9.30pm on Friday.

He said Thames Water also blamed the road contractors for the damage and would be passing the plumber's bill on to them.

The incident is the latest in a series of controversies that have dogged the Oxford Road roadworks.

The scheme is still regarded with suspicion by some residents who, despite council denials, fear it is the first step towards the building of an unwanted bus lane on the road.

And last month, residents complained they were unable to park their cars in their driveways, which had been preyed on in nearby streets by thieves and vandals.