Schools CLOSED after thousands left without water for days as warm spell continues | The Sun
BRITAIN'S sweltering heatwave has forced schools to close to left homes without water – with warnings of worse to come.
People living across Kent and Sussex have gone days without water, it has been revealed, with utility chiefs urging "essential use only".
And children have been made to stay home from school due to the water shortages.
South East Water bosses have set up bottled water stations across affected areas while it builds up reserves.
The water shortages and rationing come as the region, like the rest of the UK, has been hit by a spell of hot temperatures – and the Met Office says a maximum temperature of 28C could continue over the weekend and until next Monday.
Three East Sussex primary schools had emergency closures due to the lack of water yesterday – and one of them, Rotherfield Primary School in Crowborough, remained shut today.
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The school's announcement read: "Sadly, the situation at school remains the same this morning.
"The water pressure is still significantly lower than it needs to be and drops quickly when a tap is turned on."
Headteacher Kate Bishop told how only a little water was “dribbling through” the taps.
Beacon Academy sixth form students, also in Crowborough, were advised to attend a different site due to the loss of water supply in the area.
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Other areas experiencing no or low water pressure include Wadhurst, Mayfield, Lewes and Newhaven in East Sussex, as well as Biddenden, Staplehurst, Cranbrook and Ashford in Kent.
Wealden MP Nus Ghani hit out at South East Water for failing its customers including schools.
She said in a video message on Twitter: "So it's day four of South East Water failing to deliver water to many areas in Wealden, Wadhurst, Mayfield, Rotherfield, Crowborough.
"I've spoken to headteachers, businesses, families and it's appalling.
"They keep saying it's a supply and demand issue because it's hot, but we have hot days in the summer and we're just coming to terms with dealing with the last water crisis six months ago.
"South East Water are failing us again and they've learnt nothing from letting us down at Christmas."
A warning to customers to use only essential water supply stretches from Haywards Heath in West Sussex to Whitstable in Kent.
A message from South East Water apologised to those experiencing low or no water, adding: "The soaring temperatures across our regions have meant we are using more water than normal.
"Over the weekend we treated and supplied enough additional water to serve four towns the size of Maidstone or Eastbourne.
"So, we're asking for your help – please use water for essential purposes only to keep the taps flowing for everyone."
The Met Office are predicting rain to return from next week despite this weekend's continuing warmth.
The long-range forecast says "heavy and thunder" showers are likely to spread across "many areas" from next Monday and could go on though the week.
Yet temperatures are still expected to stay "very warm" and humid.
The Met Office says tomorrow will be "another day with plenty of sunshine for most" before a weekend which should be "dry with long sunny spells".
There could be some thunderstorms across southern England on Saturday, according to forecasters – but conditions are likely to remain "humid".
Next week could bring some rain showers – "some heavy and thundery" – but the Met Office added: "Brighter or sunnier interludes are also expected, along with a brisk breeze at times.
"Temperatures will remain warm or very warm and rather humid for many."
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates said: “Over the coming days we’ll be transitioning to a more unsettled regime for the UK, though temperatures will remain high and it’ll feel very humid for many.
“Heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to become more frequent through the weekend, with the potential for associated hail, lightning and some gusty winds.
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"While the focus of thundery showers on Friday afternoon will be Northern Ireland, that risk spreads more widely across western and southern areas of the UK on Saturday, before pushing further north on Sunday.
"As in many of these situations, these showers can be hit or miss, with some places avoiding them whilst other areas nearby may see some very wet conditions."
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