Around 180,000 people living in Haarlem, Bloemendaal and Aalsmeer and their surrounding areas have been told to boil all water for two minutes before drinking it, after the E-coli bacteria was found in drinking water at the Hoofddorp distribution station.

E-coli can cause diarrhoea and stomach upsets. Local water company PWN is investigating the source of the bacteria and says it will update locals on the situation later on Wednesday. E-coli is found in human, animal and bird faecal matter.