THOUSANDS of furious residents have been left without water in one of Britain's poshest towns.

Up to 3,000 have been unable to wash or flush their toilets for the last four days because of a burst pipe.

They have instead had to travel miles for showers and toilet trips, with some using local gym's or friends houses in neighbouring towns.

South East Water blamed the freezing weather and set up a bottled water station at a nearby Tesco Superstore.

But residents in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, accused the water firm of presiding over a shambolic situation that left them feeling dehumanised.

Mum-of-one Gemma Shelley, 42, who lives in one of the affected areas, told The Sun: "It's an absolute shambles from South East Water and everyone down our road is at the end of their tether.

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"We're having to phone friends who live in the next town to ask if they don't mind us using their shower.

"We're using the facilities at our local gym when nature calls. It's embarrassing and actually quite dehumanising.

"They're blaming the recent cold weather but why then has it happened repeatedly this year – our area has been cut off more than 20 times in the last few months.

"It's a complete disgrace and there needs to be compensation paid out."

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It is also resident Ian Wright's eighth time without water in several weeks, Kent Online reported

His daughter Zuzi Ledger said: "Across that time he has been without water for more than 57 hours but this has been the longest time he has been without water so far.

"They keep telling me they'll provide him with water but they never do.

"I have asked my brother to get him some bottles but he won't get those until he finishes work. It's ridiculous. It's a human right.

MP Greg Clark said: "The situation has been a nightmare for thousands, and particularly stressful in freezing weather and with Christmas so close."

Douglas Whitfield, South East Water’s Incident Director, said: “Customers in the Tunbridge Wells area are experiencing intermittent water supplies today as we continue to face issues balancing supply and demand for drinking water.

“Demand for water has soared again following a drastic increase in burst pipes and customer leaks throughout the area.

“We’re so sorry to customers for the continued disruption which we know is unacceptable. Our team of technicians are working around the clock using a variety of methods to reroute water around the network and ease pressure on our system.

“However, we are also reliant on demand for water to reduce so we can restore supply to normal levels.

“Our bottled water station at Tesco Superstore, Woodgate Corner, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4NE opened at 9.30am and our customer care team is busy delivering bottled water to those most in need.

“Supply issues are being caused by our underground storage reservoirs running low, meaning the booster pumps that pump water to higher ground stop operating.

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“We are working as quickly as we can and our leak teams are on the ground 24/7 locating and fixing these leaks and bursts, but it is impossible to predict where and when they will happen.

“We are continuing to ask customers to check their own pipework in homes, schools and businesses for leaks and bursts together with outside taps and livestock troughs which may have also been damaged by the low temperatures. Even small leaks and bursts can cause issues and damage."

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