Water is now returning to customers after a power cut at a treatment plant left them dry for two days.

A total of 8,000 residents and businesses around Goudhurst, Wadhurst, Lamberhurst, Matfield, Kilndown, Hawkhurst, Sandhurst, and Northiam near Tunbridge Wells suffered with low or no water since 10am Sunday.

Power has since returned to South East Water's Bewl Water Treatment Works but not before the failure caused damage to equipment within the site.

Lamberhurst St. Mary's Church of England Primary School had to close early yesterday due to the loss of water.

All supply was lost with toilets not working causing the decision to send all 250 pupils and staff home by 12.15pm.

Head teacher Caroline Bromley said: "We managed to give every pupil their lunch and had already filled jugs for the tables with fresh water, while we alerted parents to the school closure.

"Local head teachers began urgent online discussions as it became clear that several areas, including Lamberhurst were still without water and we had to remain closed until 11am this morning when our supply was restored."

The school has reopened again today after staff flushed through the taps and toilets making everything safe for pupils.

Water stations were set up in The Fowlers Car Park in Rye Road, Hawkhurst, Dale Hill Hotel and Golf Club in Wadhurst and at Northiam Village Hall in Rye.

South East Water has been asked if these stations will still be in effect as water returns to customers through conventional means.

The most recent update from 8.41am this morning said that while water is returning to taps it may take time for the supply to refill and so customers may still experience low pressure.

'We're really sorry to our customers...who remain without water'

The company also said while supplies restore, water may filter through cloudy or white but if it clears from bottom to top then it is just a little more aerated than usual.

Brown water is also likely but South East Water has stressed this is the result of iron residue in the mains being disturbed turning the water a murky colour.

It is not harmful and it has said to run the tap until the water turns clear.

A statement from South East Water's incident manager, Richard Sands, said: “Water is gradually returning to customers in Matfield, Goudhurst, Pembury, Kilndown, Hawkhurst, Northiam, Sandhurst and surrounding areas of Kent.

“The damage to our water treatment works which resulted in multiple equipment failures and electrical damage has now been repaired and the site is back up and running again.

“As our drinking water storage tanks, which hold millions of litres of treated water, and hundreds of miles of pipework have been completely drained, it will take time for us to steadily refill the entire network which is why water won’t return instantly.

“Our technicians are also out and about removing localised airlocks from the network."