Most schools in the North are hopeful of re-opening on time after the water leaks crisis, it was claimed today.

The North's under-fire water authorities have fought off resignation calls over the crisis in water supplies.

The company in charge of the North's faltering water supply will meet the minister responsible today with mounting anger at the way it has handled the crisis.

A senior civil servant suspended over a scandal linked to the North's government-owned water company was not made a scapegoat, his minister insisted today.