Families left without water during sweltering heatwave offered BOTTLES until problem fixed

FRAZZLED families have been left without water as temperatures soar across the country.

A burst pipe on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent means a number of households have low water pressure or a total loss of supply today.

They are now being urged to visit bottled water collection points to keep hydrated during the heatwave.

Southern Water has apologised for the blunder and said the issue has been exacerbated by a high demand for water.

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The company said: "We are extremely sorry that homes and businesses on the Isle of Sheppey are seeing low water pressure or loss of supply.

"Last night we undertook some repair work on the primary water main which carries water to storage reservoirs on the island. The work required us to temporarily pause the water flow.

"Due to the hot weather there has also been exceptionally high demand so water storage levels are lower than normal.

"Our priority is to set up bottled water collection points. We’ll share where these are on our social media channels and website soon – customers please don’t travel until these are confirmed as this could slow our response."

Southern are also delivering water to any customers on their priority service register.

It comes as the UK's scorching heatwave is set to last for more than a week.

The country has been warmer than parts of the Maldives in the past few days with temperatures expected to peak at 33C today.

A Cobra meeting took place yesterday as Government ministers draw up their first-ever heatwave emergency response.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued a level three heat-health alert for the South East.

The weather has already caused some carnage - with a section of railway track bursting into flames in Battersea, South London, yesterday.

Fires also spread across the Army's Salisbury Plain Training Area on Monday.

Bookies have now slashed the odds on a possible hosepipe ban, and water bosses have urged customers to cut down by not washing cars or sprinkling lawns.