One of UK motorists' biggest frustrations could be eased in the future, thanks to a new technology inspired by the human bloodstream.
Yorkshire Water is testing a new way to fix leaks, which sends rubber-based 'Platelets' down the water pipe.
The idea is that the Platelets are forced by the water pressure into any holes where water is escaping, plugging the leak without the need to dig up the pipe - similar to the way that tiny platelets in the blood gather around wounds to form a scab.
The concept, developed by tech company Brinker, was first used by the oil and gas industry. Now it's being tested by Yorkshire Water, which hopes that by 2010 it won't have to dig up any roads to fix leaky pipes.
"The future benefits of the technology are huge - from the day-to-day repair of bursts to the reduction of leakage levels and holes in the road," said Simon Barnes, head of innovation at Yorkshire Water.
"It will bring the repair and maintenance of the water network into the 21st century."
