Thousands of homes might not have water on Christmas Day after pipes burst in the big thaw

• Around 65,000 customers had their water supply cut off due to burst pipes
• Southern Water, South East Water and United Utilities have had to distribute bottles of water to customers cut off from normal supplies
• Companies can’t ‘100 per cent commit’ that supplies will be back by Christmas

Thousands of households could be left without water over the festive season due to burst pipes.

Three water companies – Southern Water, South East Water and United Utilities – have had to distribute bottles of water to customers cut off from normal supplies in Sussex, Kent and Merseyside after the cold snap ended at the beginning of the week.

Pensioners complained of being unable to wash or clean for days, while some families had to melt snow to flush their toilets.

In all, around 65,000 customers had their water supply cut off.

Thousands of households could be left without water over the festive season due to burst pipes in Sussex, Kent and Merseyside

But company bosses in Kent said they were unable to guarantee that all customers would have water by Christmas.

Pipes burst in the county at the beginning of last week, and South East Water said pressure should be returning in Tunbridge Wells and nearby Tonbridge today.

But the company said it could not ‘100 per cent commit’ that supplies in parts of Kent and Sussex will be back to normal by Christmas. Incident director Douglas Whitfield said its reservoir was draining faster than it could be replenished due to leaks and burst pipes on the network.

Tunbridge Wells resident Michelle Garratt said on Twitter: ‘Words really can’t express how much I hate South East Water right now.’ Greg Clark, the Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells, described the situation as ‘unacceptable and appalling’ and called for businesses and anyone affected to be compensated as soon as possible.

Lines of cars queued to collect plastic bottles of water in Pembury, near Tunbridge Wells, yesterday.

Homes in Broadstairs, Kent, were cut off from water after pipes burst on Monday. Southern Water said the burst pipe had been fixed, meaning all customers in nearby areas including Manston, Ramsgate and Margate were back in supply.

In north Lancashire, properties in Morecambe, Lancaster, Carnforth and Heysham were hit by burst pipes, with many being left with no water or poor pressure since Sunday. United Utilities said: ‘We are sorry that some customers… experienced disruption to their water supply. Our teams are working really hard to carry out repairs on our pipes as quickly as possible.’

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