A MAJOR incident has been declared in south-east England as tens of thousands of homes are left without water.

About 30,000 households in Sussex and Kent were still experiencing water shortages today after a weekend of disruption in 10 postcodes, including Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury and Maidstone.

South East Water said burst water mains, a power cut at its pumping plant and last week’s Storm Goretti were to blame for the disruptions.

The storm affected the rate at which water treatment normally happens, the water company said, and caused an outbreak of burst water mains due to freezing conditions.

Bottled water collection points have been set up throughout the affected counties. Some customers were told that their water may not return until tomorrow.

Tunbridge Wells MP Mike Martin told the BBC: “We’re in a bizarre situation where we’ve privatised water and they are accountable to no-one.

“I think the chair of South East Water needs to convene the board and get a grip of what’s going on.”