Complex repairs to plug a leak in one of the main pipes supplying water to the Isle of Sheppey have failed.

Engineers from Southern Water spent last Thursday night mending the damage and reported it completed on Friday.

But a week later the water is once again gushing into the Swale beneath the Kingsferry Bridge.

VIDEO: The leak at the Kingsferry Bridge, Sheppey

A spokesman for Southern Water said: “The leak was on one of the two pipes which supply the Island. This was a complex repair in a sensitive location.”

In January last year the Island’s supply was cut off and 10,000 homes and businesses were left without water for 25 days after a main burst alongside the A249 at Bobbing.

Bottles of water had to be shipped onto the Island, costing Southern Water around £640,000.

A smaller leak alongside the A249 was found in September. At the time, Southern Water insisted it had three mains now running under the A249 to guarantee the Island’s supply.

Water is fed along the old Sheppey Way and then down a service pipe in one of the legs of the bridge, under the Swale and then up another leg.

Southern Water said engineers had discovered "further issues" while repairing the pipe and now need to replace part of it.

The leak is on the older of two mains serving the Island. The pipe was laid more than 50 years ago when the bridge was built.

A spokesman said: "I would like to reassure customers that supplies to the Isle of Sheppey are not at risk as there are two mains which cross the Swale bringing water from the mainland."

The repairs are being carried out at low tide using a suspended scaffolding cage.