When were lead pipes banned in the UK?

Lead pipes were banned in 1969 because lead is poisonous, especially for the vulnerable (children, pregnant women and the elderly). But, many pre-1970s homes will still have lead pipes today and they have been used in the UK for drinking water for almost 2000 years. The lead content in water is significantly reduced by calcium deposits etc on the inside of pipes but many home owners prefer to replace lead with copper pipes when renovating.