VILLAGERS in Timberscombe were left without water on Sunday night after the community was hit by four burst water pipes.

About 180 properties were affected by loss of supplies and low water pressure.

It caused localised flooding as Wessex Water engineers worked through the night to repair the leaks.

Timberscombe resident Katherine Attwater, said: “Within minutes they were on the scene distributing drinking water to everyone’s homes.”

Engineers completed the repairs around 4am.

The cause of the burst pipes was not known, Wessex Water said.

Wessex Water spokesman Peter Orchard said: “Leaks at four locations affected around 180 properties on Sunday evening, with tankers and bottled water provided for customers experiencing a loss of supply or low pressure.

“Repairs were completed overnight, and supplies returned to normal in the area. We are sorry for the inconvenience.”

The cause of the leaks was unknown, but Mr Orchard said that often it could be a change in temperature, a tree root, or simply wear and tear over time.

He said it was not uncommon for a burst in one section of pipe to trigger further bursts nearby due to sudden changes in water pressure and flows.