FOR dozens of Wickford householders the Easter weekend started badly, when a burst pipe shut off their water supply.

A main burst in Beauchamps Drive, near the Princess Court flats block, causing problems for residents – just a week after a main burst in Hovefields Avenue.

Water company workmen were called out to fix the problem, but many homes were without water for much of Good Friday.

Complaints about burst pipes and flooding in the area have increased in recent weeks.

Debbie Johnson Burgess posted angrily on Facebook: “I can’t believe it has gone again.

“It hasn't been six months since it went before and we had no water.

“I’ve lived here 16 years and it keeps going. I’ve lost count of the amount of time we have had no water because of the same pipe.”

Wickford councillors are calling for action, claiming the problems have doubled home insurance premiums in parts of the town.

Peter Holliman, borough councillor for Wickford North, said: “My concern with this is the flooding comes down to us having too many houses and the water pipes not being able to cope.”

An Essex and Suffolk Water spokesman said: “We had calls to report low pressure or no water in the area.

“All customers have had a card pushed through their doors and a crew was on scene to fix the problem.

“We took 27 calls about a lack of pressure, or no water at all.”

The spokesman added the problem had been fixed and water restored to all properties by 2.15pm.

Last Thursday, several homes in Hovefields Avenue suffered flooding and many more were cut off after a nearby pipe burst.

In that case, resident Danny Copeland, 73, claimed he had been told by Essex and Suffolk Water upgrading the pipe, which also burst three years before, had been a low priority.