Hundreds of properties could be left without running water.

Southern Water is to cut off supplies to 400 homes as it carries out emergency repairs to a burst water main in Rochester High Street.

A stretch of road between Foundry Wharf and Ship Lane is closed while workmen dig down to mend the leak.

A diversion has been put in place.

Matthew Smiley, regional water networks and customer operations manager, said: "We will be using tankers to inject additional water back into the network, and while we hope this means those properties will stay in supply, there may still be some properties that will experience low pressure or no water.

"The road will be closed and a diversion in place as our teams work safely to dig down, make the repair and be away from the area as quickly as possible. We thank people for their patience."

A company spokesman said cutting water supply would be a last resort and three tankers had been put on standby to pump water back into the network if needed.

They added that engineers were digging down to expose the pipe to see what was needed. "It's impossible at this stage to say how long it will take," they said.

The tankers were being brought into action at around 2.30pm.

Just after 6pm, the company tweeted to say the burst main had been repaired and the network was being recharged.

It added: "All properties affected should now be back in supply or will be very soon.

"There may be some discolouration & it is ok to use water as normal."

Another tweet advised: "Running the tap for a short while can help to clear it & any air which may be present in the network.

"We apologise for the disruption this has caused & thank people for their understanding; our focus now will be to reinstate the road & be away from the area as quickly as possible."