Residents have been left without water after a major road was closed due to a burst water main near a bridge.

The A229 Linton Road has been closed in Loose, near Maidstone, due to concerns about a leak near the viaduct above Salts Lane.

Police were called to the incident yesterday evening to assist with a road closure which remains in place.

All traffic is currently being diverted away from the area.

Repairs to the pipe were carried out yesterday but has impacted on a nearby water treatment works, cutting off supplies to homes.

South East Water has apologised to customers in Bearsted, Grove Green, Senacre, Linton and the surrounding areas who may be experiencing low water pressure or no water today.

It comes after a pipe burst close to the suppliers underground storage reservoir which has "caused levels to run low".

Steve Benton, South East Water Incident Manager, said: “We’re really sorry to customers in parts of Maidstone and the surrounding areas who are experiencing water supply issues today – whether it is low water pressure or no water at all.

“We are dealing with a number of issues across our network in Maidstone and the surrounding areas which have led to problems at our water treatment works which in turn has led our storage reservoirs to run very low.

“One of those issues was a burst pipe in Linton Road, which we have had to close for the safety of the public and our repair teams.

“As part of the repair process the bridge will be looked at by qualified engineers in case of any damage.

“We are working as quickly as we can to restore supplies and get the road reopened.”

The areas currently affected include:

• East Farleigh
• West Farleigh
• Coxheath
• Loose
• Linton
• Kingswood
• East Sutton Hill
• Pye Corner
• Hawkenbury
• Headcorn
• Ulcombe

In an updated statement South East Water said: "Our Technicians are dealing with a number of burst water pipes on our network which have caused some of our key underground storage reservoir levels to run low.

"We’re working as quickly as possible to repair the burst pipes but it may take some time for your water supply to return to normal as we need to allow the network to refill.

"Customers who are signed up to our Priority Services Register will have bottled water delivered directly to their door. If you are not signed up to the list but you are vulnerable, please visit here."

In the meantime, bottled water stations have been set up in various locations including Maidstone Leisure Centre, Mote Park, Senacre Wood Primary School and New Line Learning Academy on Boughton Lane.

The school has two gates – one of which is still locked – and residents will need to use the entrance gate where they can collect water from.

A diversion is currently in place via A274 Sutton Road, A274 Maidstone Road, A274 Headcorn Road, A274 Maidstone Road (Headcorn) A274 Biddenden Road, A274 North Street, A262 down to Wilsley Pound, A229 Cranbrook Common, A229 Rocks Hill, A229 Cranbrook Road, A229 Station Road (Staplehurst) A229 Maidstone Road, A229 Staplehurst Road, A229 Linton Hill and vice versa.

Motorists have been warned to expect delays in the surrounding areas and allow extra time for travel.

Police were also called to a crash involving two cars on Linton Hill, near the Redwall Lane junction, at around 10am this morning.

Officers attended and say one person reported a minor injury.