A family has been living in misery and frustration after a huge water leak outside their home – first reported more than four months ago.

David and Jacqui Townsend were even put on a hosepipe ban over the summer while a “river” was gushing in Shottenden, a village between Ashford and Canterbury.

The couple now fears with the weather on the turn, Shottenden Road will become a “lethal ice rink” once frost sets in.

As well as the constant complaints to South East Water, their drive has been damaged as the gravel is flushed away.

Mrs Townsend, 52, told KentOnline the situation is a “joke”.

“We were put on a hosepipe ban when we had a river running outside,” she said.

“They said we couldn't water our garden but it’s alright because we could have just diverted the stream onto it.”

Mr Townsend added: “If we had the hose on they would have threatened to fine us.”

He estimates the water runs for a quarter-of-a-mile down the street.

It finishes after diverting off the tarmac at a farm in a large pool.

The 60-year-old believes there will be an accident on the wet road once temperatures plummet.

“They really need to sort it before it gets colder because you will get more potholes and damage – there will be an accident,” he said.

“It could certainly cause injury in the winter. Then it’s not just unsightly it’s dangerous – there’s no doubt about that.”

Mrs Townsend says the road will become “lethal” once it gets icy.

She worries for her three sons, two of whom have started to drive and one of whom is learning.

“We will literally have an ice rink out there,” she said.

“It will be lethal because it's a straight stretch of road which is just covered in standing water. “You can see where it straightens out here, so people just put their foot down.

“I worry about my children but people who don’t know about it and speed along will be worse off. Cyclists and walkers use it too.”

This is not the first time pipes have burst in Shottenden Road.

The mum-of-three claims to have reported more than 200 leaks in the 25 years the family have lived there.

“The pipe is always going,” she said. “It needs replacing.”

The leak, which is still running now, was first reported to South East Water on May 24.

At the time it was small, but grew “considerably and quickly”.

There were two smaller leaks alongside it, and the Townsends could see water spouting out of the ground.

“We got an email and text message back each time,” Mr Townsend said.

“A month later a van did turn up.

“He looked at it and said: ‘Oh we will need to get a permit to close the road off to do it’”.

On September 22, more workmen arrived.

Ms Townsend said: “They closed the road off and sprayed some arrows, so we assumed something was going to be done.

“Then at the end of the day, someone just collected all the signs back up.

“That Friday they came back and sprayed some even bigger arrows but did nothing.”

A smaller leak was finally fixed following that day but the biggest one, which starts at the couple’s drive, is still flowing.

Mrs Townsend said: “It's unsightly, it’s annoying, it’s time-consuming and it’s just frustrating more than anything.

“It was a simple leak that could have been fixed and now it’s got big.

“Our driveway is totally damaged – it’s gouged it away.

“On either side, there are two gullies where it has eroded away. There is a huge pothole at the front too.

“We want to sell next year and the driveway is going to be a right mess. Do we have to foot the bill to fix it?”

“Why should we have to waste our time complaining time and time again?”

South East Water distribution manager Adam Newbury said: “After receiving reports of a leak in Shottenden Road, our teams undertook initial investigations in August and attempted a repair on September 22.

“However, it had to be abandoned as the leak was not in the same location as the water.

“Following further investigations, we have now located the source of the leak off a narrow single-track road and repair work is planned to be carried out today.

“We are working to try and repair this leak as quickly and as safely as possible.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by the leak and will look to minimise disruption as much as we can.”