BOTTLED water is to be distributed in parts of Swindon this morning as major problems with the supply look set to continue. 

As of 7.30am, many homes and businesses across SN1 and SN3 had been without water for almost 12 hours.

Homes in some parts of Wroughton are also affected.

The unexplained shut down in supply happened shortly before 8pm on Sunday and despite assurances it would be fixed within hours, it was still impacting many customers on Monday morning.

Thames Water dispatched engineers to the area as soon as they became aware of the issue and at around 10pm the company said the fault had been identified and the supply restored.

Homes and businesses were told that their water should be back to normal by midnight at the latest.

But at 11.35pm, with many people reporting that they were still without any water, a Thames Water spokesman revised that estimate by a further hour.

In the early hours of the morning the company then told frustrated customers that tests needed to be carried out before full service could be resumed in much of SN1 and revised their restoration time, again, to 4am.

But as morning came, with many homes and businesses still without water, the company acknowledged the problem may be more serious than first thought.

Refusing to rule out further stoppages, even for those whose supply has been restored for now, Thames Water said that bottled water supplies were en route to Swindon and due in the area by 8am.

Just after 9.30am, Thames Water informed residents via social media that water is available at Victoria House in Okus Road. A lorry has also parked up in Victoria Road although it is not clear whether the drivers have been given the green light to hand out any water. 

A statement released by the company at 7am said: "We're working in East Wichel Way following a burst water pipe.

"We have now restored the water supply to the majority of the SN1 and SN3 areas that were affected yesterday evening.

"Customers in SN1 should now have water, however this may be at a lower pressure than normal.

"During higher demand you may again experience very low pressure or no water whilst the repair is completed. 

"Bottled water has been arranged and is still en-route to the area.

"Once the water has arrived we will update this message with confirmation of its locations.

"We expect bottled water to be there no later than 8am 

"We're sorry for the distruption this has caused and thank you for your patience."

While the absence of water has been frustrating for all those affected, it hit restaurants and bars in the Old Town area particularly hard.

Bank Holiday Sunday is a busy trading day and venues in the Wood Street and Victoria Road areas were packed with customers.

With bar staff unable to wash glasses or use their soda fountain guns, they hit the shops in search of emergency supplies.

The shelves at McColl's on Victoria Road were emptied of all remaining bottled water and soft drinks by just after 9.30pm.

Staff from Longs bar were said to have spent at least £100 on water while the owner of Old Town's popular Tree nightclub was seen loading a trolley full of as many bottles of Coke, Diet Coke and Schweppes Tonic as he could get hold of.

Restaurants were also affected, with kitchen staff resorting to using bottles water as they tried to wash enough plates, glasses and cooking utensils to serve the customers sat none the wiser at their tables.

Thames Water's Twitter account was inundated with complaints from businesses and ordinary residents.

While many understood that such unforseen incidents do happen, there was frustration as he midnight restoration point came and went with no change to the situation.

Staff at The Old Bank on Wood Street described the situation as a "nightmare".

At around 12.25pm they tweeted Thames Water saying: "This is a joke now. We have been patient and had no help. What's going on?"

An hour later, Shareen Campbell, co-owner of Tapas restaurant Los Gatos also tweeted her frustration. 

She said: "A disgrace: 25 mins to answer phone; 4 hours to find cause; nearly 7 hrs and still no water. Compensation? Watch this space..."