Thames Water is urging customers to be patient after receiving hundreds of reports of burst mains in the London and Thames Water region, including 30 in Oxford since Saturday.

The company said engineers were working around the clock to carry out emergency repairs as quickly as possible.

In Kidlington, more than 60 homes were left without water or with low water pressure after a water main burst at the junction of Lock Crescent and Stratfield Road yesterday morning.

Spokesman Amy Dutton said: “We had sorted the problem by 10.30am.”

Thames Water said the coldest winter in 12 years had led to a significant increase in bursts and leaks on its water mains. Ms Dutton said: "We have doubled the number of engineers dealing with bursts.

“It’s essential that we prioritise repairs in order of severity to help prevent flooding to homes and businesses, and roads that could freeze over.

“When the water reaches 4C or less and enters our water mains, many of which in London are more than 100 years old, it can cause the ageing metal pipes to snap.

“Any hairline cracks or structural weaknesses, which in warmer weather would not cause pipes to burst, are at risk of breaking the pipe in freezing conditions.”

To report a burst water main, call Thames Water on 0800 714614.