Raw sewage has spilled into the River Len in Maidstone after a sewer collapsed.

Southern Water and the Environment Agency were called after the waste burst from a pipe in a field at Turkey Mill yesterday.

Southern Water installed temporary pipes and pumps the same day to bypass the damaged section and said that customers could continue to use their services at home, but the repair of the sewer itself would be "a complex task."

Turkey Mill estates manager John Hawkins said: "It hasn’t affected our businesses. It polluted a small corner of a field about the size of someone’s back garden in the western boundary of our 20-acre estate.

"But it was very unpleasant."

Four sewage mains connect to an interchange chamber beneath the field, with the sewage pumped through under pressure at the rate of 300 litres a second.

Mr Hawkins said: "Southern Water had it under control very quickly but I understand it might take 10 days to repair."

Southern Water previously had to repair a corroded section of one of the same pipes where it passed through Mote Park back in August.

Environment Agency spokesman Elisa Orchard said: "We received reports of sewage entering the River Len which feeds into the River Medway. Two officers responded immediately.

"The discharge was re-directed to an alternative manhole and our officers have confirmed there has been no detrimental impact to the environment."

The Kids Unlimited nursery is the nearest building to the spillage, but the property was not affected and did not have to close.

The site has been visited by Cllr Fran Wilson, leader of Maidstone council’s opposition Lib Dem group, and by Jasper Gerard, the Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Maidstone and the Weald, who said the incident served as a warning against excessive house-building in the borough.

Cllr Wilson said: "This is a really serious leak and is indicative of the pressure on the town’s sewerage system.

"There is a lesson here. The council is seeking to build 18,600 new homes in the borough, but our sewers can’t cope with the pressure now."

Mr Gerard said: "Sewage has been spewing into the River Len and all over the River Len Nature Reserve.

"This incident is likely to be the first of many in the County Town. Developers are being allowed to plug into the existing antiquated sewage network - which is already at capacity

"Maidstone council says ‘it’s not our problem’, but it is, if it wants to pass a Local Plan allowing 18,600 houses to be built."

Mr Gerard said: "The council needs to stop passing the buck and hold a round table discussion with Southern Water and the Environment Agency to agree what upgrades are needed if we are to have house-building on such a massive scale, and crucially how that is going to be paid for.

"The biggest sewage pipe in Maidstone runs through the town’s High Street - what happens if that also bursts?"