A Swindon resident has criticised Thames Water for failing to fix a water leak for several weeks.

Roy Walker who lives in Grange Drive in Lower Stratton got in touch with the Adver after reporting a leak in the road a few weeks ago.

Mr Walker explained he and other neighbours had told Thames Water about the problem, and claims nothing has been done about it.

“It’s getting to the stage now, where the pavement has got green slime on it which is a hazard to pedestrians,” he added.

“I reported it online. Whether it’s an argument between the household and Thames Water I don’t know.”

Swindon Advertiser: Pic: Dave Cox Pic: Dave Cox

The water company has said it will be introducing a hosepipe ban in the coming weeks as the UK goes through one of its driest spells on record.

On Friday, the UK government declared a drought in the Eastern, Central and Southern parts of England.

Mr Walker said he was annoyed that there was a shortage of water when Thames Water should be fixing leaks across its network.

“We’ve got a water shortage and in a few weeks we are probably going onto a hosepipe ban and there’s a leak down the road that’s not been dealt with,” he said.

Thames Water boss Sarah Bentley is being handed two payments, totalling £727,000, this year on top of her extra bonuses and slaray for the year of £2million.

It comes after the Environment Agency earlier this month slammed water companies for their record on pollution and sewage discharges – branding 2021 as 'the worst we have seen for years'. 

Elsewhere a village has been forced to rely on deliveries of bottled and tanker water after taps ran dry in the ongoing heatwave.

Residents of Northend in Oxfordshire said the emergency supplies arrived this week after Thames Water confirmed 68 customers had been “completely without water for a period of time”.

It was found that the reservoir had E.Coli in it, but has now been disinfected.

Thames Water has been approached for comment.