Furious villagers have been left without any running water after Thames Water pleaded with people not to use hosepipes and sprinklers during the heatwave following a "record demand" for water.

Residents in Lea Close, Marlow Bottom, say they have not had any water since 6am today (Monday) after experiencing low pressure over the weekend.

Kerry Grant told the Marlow Free Press a large part of New Road and Hill Farm Road also do not have any running water, saying: “It is the elderly and people with young babies that I feel bad for in this heat.

“People are being told different excuses as to why we have no water.”

Frustrated residents took to social media to slam Thames Water, which said it was “working hard” to “keep disruption at a bare minimum”.

Spokesman Abby Turner said: “We’re sorry to those customers in some SL postcode areas who have had no water or lower pressure than normal today following the record demand for water.

“We’ve been pro-actively contacting people in the area since last week, explaining the need to reduce their water use during the heatwave to prevent disruption, including sending out thousands of text messages over the weekend.

“We’re pumping an extra 25 per cent into the local network to help meet the increased demand, but at peak times people may still notice a drop in their water pressure.

“We’re working as hard as we can to keep any disruption to the bare minimum.”

The company also said it could not put a timescale on when running water could be reinstated, saying: “It very much depends on demand. If those who do have water use it excessively, then it will take longer for a normal supply to reach all households.”