Thirteen burst water mains are likely to prove unlucky for businesses in Maidstone as they face four months of disruption.

Work to upgrade the system, costing £155,000, is due to start on Monday, January 5, and will run to May, although no finish date has been confirmed.

South East Water has decided to modernise pipes throughout the town centre after suffering 13 bursts since 2010. It will affect Week Street and Earl Street.

Maidstone Town Centre Management will hold a meeting to explain the work to local businesses on Wednesday, October 1, at the town hall.

Three years ago the town was hit by gas works by Southern Gas Networks and Morrisons Utility, which lasted from April and ended in February after work stopped over Christmas.

Larry Williamson, event and marketing co-ordinator at TCM, said: “The meeting will give us a forum to find out more, as we don’t know much at the moment.

“We remember the gas works a few years ago. It is going to be absolute chaos.”

Chris Love, delivery manager at South East Water, said: “We are still very much in the planning stages of this work and as part of that process are due to meet with businesses in the town centre.

“By holding meetings like this at an early stage we can discuss the plans with the businesses and if they raise any issues that we’re not already aware of, we can resolve them before work begins.

“We are working hard to ensure that there will be as little disruption to businesses, residents and shoppers as possible while the work is carried out.

“I’m sure like us our customers don’t like seeing water being wasted which is why we’re planning to upgrade these pipelines in Week Street and Earl Street.”

Mr Love added the upgrades should mean that businesses and residents receive uninterrupted supplies.