Thousands face Christmas without water after surge in burst pipes

Rapid thaw of frozen pipes promoted spike in number of bursts and leaks on underground pipes

Tens of thousands of homes in south-east England face Christmas without running water after freezing temperatures caused a surge in burst pipes.

Water companies are working to ensure households across large parts of Sussex, Kent, Hertfordshire, Hampshire and parts of London are reconnected by the weekend.

Firms said the rapid thaw of frozen pipes had increased the number of bursts and leaks on the underground network of pipes, causing storage reservoir levels to drop after temperatures plunged below zero.