A route running through the centre of a village has been sealed off just two weeks after thousands of residents were left without running water when five pipes burst in quick succession.

Reculver Road in Beltinge, Herne Bay, is closed outside the Rising Sun pub after the thoroughfare's sixth leak this month.

This comes almost a fortnight after a series of issues, which began when a mains pipe burst along the same route on May 2.

South East Water managed to fix the problem, but there were four further leaks soon afterwards.

The firm's distribution manager, Mark Rice, said: "An investigation following the first series of bursts is underway and the circumstances surrounding this new burst will be fed into the inquiry."

In order to undertake the repairs earlier this month, the company had to temporarily turn off the water supply to 3,400 households in the area.

South East Water says it has fixed the latest leak and expects the road closure to remain in place until next Monday (May 18).

“The pipe has now been repaired without causing any interruptions to supply by rerouting water to local residents around our network," Mr Rice added.

"Due to the location of the burst pipe and damage caused to the carriageway, Reculver Road has been closed to traffic.

“We would once again like to apologise to local people for any disruption caused.

"Unfortunately, leaks and bursts like this do happen on our vast network of underground pipes but we would like to reassure residents that we are looking into why this pipe has become unreliable."

Motorists are being urged to seek alternative routes through Sweechbridge Road, Heart in Hand Road and Margate Road.

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