Residents left without water must be compensated, says an MP.

Greg Clark, the MP for Tunbridge Wells, has written to David Hinton, the chief executive of South East Water, to say there "was clearly a need for greater resilience within the water system" after many of his constituents had been left without running water for days.

The trouble occurred when a power outage damaged the Bewl Water Treatment Works at Lamberhurst.

As a result residents across Tunbridge Wells, Lamberhurst, Kilndown, Goudhurst, Matfield, Pembury, Capel, Hawkhurst, Sandhurst and Brenchley were left without water - or with very low pressure - for several days.

Mr Clark said: "The provision of fresh water is one of the most basic necessities."

He told Mr Hinton: "I'm sure you will agree that my constituents who were left without water, a service they had paid for in their bills, should be compensated for the substantial inconveniece they had incurred."

Mr Clark invited South East Water to inform him how such compensations payments would be made.