Residents in a seaside town were shocked to find “milky” water coming out of their taps.

A number of people in Whitstable were affected by the issue this weekend, understood to have been caused by a burst main.

Shell Massey, who lives in the St Luke's Close area, poured water from the taps and described it as "like a glass of milk".

Speaking this morning, she said it is still "very cloudy", adding: "My taps are so powerful now they are like a jet hose coming out. We have resorted to bottled water until they fix the issues."

People living in Canterbury Road and Oxford Street are also affected.

Caroline Wade, managing director of Wade PR, says she first noticed the issue on Saturday night – but had hoped it was just a one-off for the evening.

“I turned on the tap to find my water was really milky – it was white in colour and completely opaque,” she said.

“Quite a number of other residents were reporting the same issue on local Facebook groups.

“It is very disconcerting to be expected to drink water which does not go into your glass completely clear.

“I do not feel comfortable drinking cloudy water – even if it clears if it sits for a few minutes. We want to drink clear water.”

After calling South East Water’s out-of-hours team, she was told the issue was linked to a burst water main in Douglas Avenue – an issue which has since been resolved.

However, the advice the firm gave her, to let the tap run for an hour, has left the mum unimpressed.

While the issue may appear alarming, South East Water say it is perfectly normal for water to appear cloudy following repairs.

The firm says if water clears from the bottom up, it simply means the source is more aerated than usual.

Ms Wade confirmed the cloudiness was beginning to clear up as of Monday morning.

But she added: “It is all very well for the water company and those not affected to say it is just bubbles. But in reality, when you see water flowing into your glass looking cloudy it is not at all appetising.

“People need water for their baby’s formula, to drink straight from the glass and to give their kids.

“There can be no questions around whether it has something in it, whether it is full of bubbles or whether it is safe.

“A visual change to the quality of our water is worrying.”

A spokesperson from South East Water said: “We’re really sorry to customers experiencing cloudy or discoloured water in the Whitstable area.

“This occurs when there is more air than usual in the water and is likely the result of a recently repaired burst in the area.

“We have received two calls about this and have sent a technician in the area today to flush the network and this should remove any remaining air from the system.

“This water is not harmful and can be cleared by running the cold kitchen tap at a steady flow until it clears.”