London:
With severe water shortage crippling Northern Island, families have resorted to flushing toilets with lemonade, a media report said.
Engineers are struggling to restore water in many areas of the United Kingdom after melting ice left burst pipes. In Northern Ireland, 4,400 people were still without running water.
The supplier, Northern Ireland Water, said it could be next week before everyone is re-connected.
With shops quickly stripped of bottled water, some people have been using lemonade to keep their toilets flushed, the 'Daily Express' reported.
The Scots have donated 160,000 litres of bottled water and pledged to send more.
Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson said he had made it clear that the Westminster Government was also ready to help "in any way it can".
Pressure was mounting on Northern Ireland Water. First Minister Peter Robinson said: "There has to be an accountability for what has taken place and we don't think anybody could suggest NIW have covered themselves with any glory it has been shambolic."
About 3,000 properties in Thirsk, Yorkshire, were left without water after a pipe supplying a pumping station burst.