Dismayed residents could hardly believe their eyes when a water main near their homes sprang a leak for the third time in three days.

Workmen were still on site in Farleigh Lane, East Farleigh, near Maidstone, completing repairs on the two previous leaks when water again rose to the surface and started running down the street at around 4.30pm yesterday.

This time, the leak was on the other side of the road to the previous two and the water ran down towards the River Medway without flooding homes.

Contractors for South East Water worked until 10am to fix the burst and during that time nearby residents were given bottled water to make up for their interrupted supply.

Dr Annette Pantall, who lives in one of the homes affected by flooding during the earlier leak, said: "Once again South East Water and their workmen were very quick at fixing the problem.

"But it does indicate that the old Victorian mains system round here needs completely replacing which will undoubtedly be a major job involving the closure of the railway."

The leaks have all occurred just below the East Farleigh level crossing.

Although the leak is fixed, workmen still need to return to fill in the hole and resurface the carriageway and as a consequence East Farleigh Bridge remains closed to traffic.

Access to Riverside Park is permitted but only from the East Farleigh side of the river, otherwise the diversion for motorists is via Teston Bridge.

Residents are still seeing some motorists trying to force their way through and being obliged at the end to do a three-point turn, despite a sequence of three 'Road Closed' signs.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone

Keep up-to-date with developments on transport and stories that will impact how you travel