A £400,000 scheme to improve the reliability of drinking water in Whitstable homes has begun this week.

After a number of water pipe bursts and reports of low pressure and discoloured water, South East Water is replacing almost 1.2 kilometres of old pipes across three residential roads.

It is starting by installing new mains at The Halt before moving on to Firbanks, and finally Pacific Close, which the firm hopes to reach by the middle of November.

Today, the traffic island at The Halt's junction with Millstrood Road will be temporarily removed.

Project manager Jeremy Dufour said: "We will be closing the right-hand turning from Millstrood Road to The Halt from the South Street direction to temporarily remove the traffic island, to allow construction to take place."

Road users wishing to access The Halt will be asked to turn around at the Thanet Way roundabout, and approach the road using a left-hand turn. Traffic exiting The Halt will do so as normal.

South East Water has confirmed all residents will have access to their homes during the project.

The work is expected to be completed by the end of November, and will be followed by further upgrades to the underground network at Highgate Road and Ridgeway.

These schemes form part of South East Water's £424 million investment programme, which is taking place between 2015 and 2020.

For more information, visit the South East Water website.