Southern Water hopes Hampshire supplies will return by Christmas Day

A water firm has said it hopes thousands of homes will have their supplies returned by Christmas Day.

More than 20,000 properties in Southampton, Eastleigh, Hedge End and Chandler's Ford in Hampshire were affected on Wednesday.

Southern Water said pipes had burst following a thaw after freezing temperatures.

It added it was "throwing everything we can at it... so we can restore everyone's water".

The water firm said the rapid thaw of frozen pipes had caused a number of bursts and leaks on the underground network of pipes

Katy Taylor, Southern Water's chief customer officer, said: "This is not what we want for our customers, especially coming into Christmas.

"I recognise this is a massive inconvenience, this is our team's absolute priority."

'Christmas looking tricky'

Queuing up at a water station at Eastleigh, resident John Lyons said: "I did the dishwasher at 4am because there was pressure then - but there's nothing now.

"We've got 10 coming tomorrow for Christmas... it's looking tricky... we've got plenty in the water butt and we can always shower in the rain."

Bottled water have been set up for those who have lost their supply

Pat Edgehill, from Bassett in Southampton, said: "On the website it says we have low pressure but we have no water at all.

"This is very poorly organised, there are only three water stations [a fourth has since opened] and if you haven't got access to transport how are you supposed to collect water?

"On the website it says if you are put down as a priority they will deliver but on the forums last night people hadn't been receiving water. It's very poor."

Ms Taylor said the loss of pressure or water supply was down to "a number of leaks from the freeze thaw... going from the super cold temperature to when it warmed up it's led to pipes bursting."

"We are working as hard as we can to resume full service by Sunday," she added.

Four bottled water stations have now been set up, open daily from 08:00 to 22:00 GMT unless stated otherwise on Southern Water's website.

However, the water firm urged people to check online before travelling to its Eastleigh station which "may close briefly to restock".

• East Winchester Park and Ride, SO23 9NP

• South Winchester Park and Ride, SO21 2FG

• Places Leisure in Eastleigh, SO50 9NL

• Ageas Bowl in West End, SO30 3XH

Bottled water deliveries would also be made to "our most vulnerable customers on the Priority Services Register", the company added.

Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton, tweeted the news that the water station at Ageas Bowl had opened but said issues with traffic access prevented a site in Bassett, Southampton, from being used.

A number of people have complained a site in the city has still yet to be found.

Southern Water apologised, saying establishing bottled water stations was a "very complex process, involving multiple partners".

It also stressed vulnerable customers had received bottled water deliveries over the past two days despite complaints some people were still waiting.

"We have all worked as hard as possible to set up these facilities as quickly and safely as possible," Southern Water said.

Elsewhere multiple pipe bursts and leaks have also led to the loss of supplies in parts of Sussex and Kent after storage reservoir levels dropped.

South East Water said supplies have returned in Tunbridge Wells, and should be back in Sussex later.