Contaminated petrol at a Tesco filing station has caused damage to a number of vehicles, the supermarket giant has admitted.

Bosses apologised after a water leak in its unleaded fuel tanks in Faversham led to a handful of customers suffering faults.

Tesco spokesman Joe Chapman said: “We can confirm that there was a water leak in one of the fuel tanks at our Faversham filling station.

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“However, we isolated the problem quickly and are in touch with the few customers who were affected.”

“It was undoubtedly water and after we flushed out the tank and refuelled it, the vehicle returned to its normal functioning” - Mechanic Karl Weaver

Herne Bay photographer Daniel Peters claims £600 of damage was caused to his Seat after he filled up with the station’s premium unleaded Momentum fuel, but Tesco say his claims are unfounded.

Mr Peters, 33, has been protesting at the pumps in Crescent Road, telling Tesco that if he does not receive a reimbursement, he will attempt to take the £600 of custom away from it by warning other customers.

Mr Peters, of Arden Road in Faversham, said: “I was almost completely empty so I drove to Tesco and filled right up.

"But just two miles down the road, the car chugged to a stop. I got a mechanic out, and he had to put the car on the back of a low loader as he couldn’t work out the problem.

“But they carried out a full investigation and told me it was contaminated fuel. I phoned Tesco to say they have a problem with their pumps.

VIDEO: Family's Christmas affected by contaminated fuel

“I have made complaints but they are denying that it is them to blame. I’m outraged as I have paid out a lot of money to get the car fixed. I want the money for the repairs and for the fuel.”

Janet Feaver, 59, has paid out almost £500 after she filled up with Momentum before breaking down just a mile up the road.

Tesco again denied its fuel was to blame.

The carer from Boughton-under-Blean said: “It has cost me almost £500 with repairs to the car and the fuel. I don’t want compensation.

“I just want the amount of money I have paid out for it.

“I have all the receipts for the transaction and from the garage, which confirms there was water in the tank.”

Karl Weaver, of Bull Lane Garage Ltd, was the mechanic who worked on Mrs Feaver’s car.

He said: “The vehicle was presented to us as a non-starter shortly after re-fuelling.

“We carried out a full diagnosis and everything tested up as it should do.

“We took a fuel sample and it was apparent there was water.

“It was undoubtedly water and after we flushed out the tank and refuelled it, the vehicle returned to its normal functioning.”

Despite the claims of the two drivers, Mr Chapman says the supermarket remains “very confident” its fuel was not to blame for their faults.

He said: “We were very sorry to hear of the inconvenience Mr Peters and Mrs Feaver experienced.

“However, having conducted a full investigation, which included independent testing being carried out, we remain very confident that our fuel was not at fault in their cases.”

Were you affected? Call the newsdesk on 01227 475985.