Irate residents have hit out over a "disgusting" and "unacceptable" water leak that has gone on so long that the surrounding grass has turned green.

Households in an Ashford street have received multiple letters telling them to save water and now face a hosepipe ban, despite "thousands of gallons" being lost from a burst pipe on their road.

Residents say the leak on Blackdown Drive on the Quantock Drive estate has been steadily getting worse since it was first reported on July 19.

One man, who asked be only named as Phillip, said: "When I first noticed it, there was water coming out of an almost invisible hole near the grass.

"Now, it is also coming out onto the road and both leaks have got stronger."

The situation has been ongoing for so long that the grass next to it – previously yellowed amid the hot and dry weather recently – is now lush and green.

"It is ridiculous, and to make matters worse a big part of that garden has sunk, you can see a big circle that is lower than the rest of the garden," Phillip added.

"That is really concerning because as we all know this is exactly how sinkholes can be created.

"There is just no urgency from South East Water, this was reported weeks ago and has got worse and worse."

Resident Shirley Lilley branded the situation "a joke".

"To be frank, it is disgusting and completely unacceptable to have had this go on so long," she said.

"We have all received at least two letters from South East Water telling us to use water properly; where is that energy with this leak?

"If I was younger I would be going down there and trying to fill up all of my water butts – I have eight, and they are all completely dry!"

Neighbour Brian Hearn added that a contractor had been to look a the leak, but no action had been taken.

"He painted some lines and arrows on it – but that's about it, he sat in his van for a few hours and left," he said.

"With the dreadful scenes we have seen in Charing, Challock and the other areas, it seems especially dreadful that the company should be allowing hundreds or thousands of gallons to be lost like this."

Joe Ford, South East Water Distribution Manager, confirmed that the company was aware of the leak, and said that a team was due to fix it next week.

“During the recent period of hot weather we have seen a 50 per cent increase in burst or leaking water mains across our supply area," he added.

“This increase is a result of ground movement caused by the lack of rainfall and drying of the soil.

“We are reacting and repairing these as quickly as we can, prioritising leaks and bursts according to severity."

Shortly after Mr Ford commented, a company spokesman said the fix date had been moved forward to tomorrow.