THAMES Water has called for customers’ “help and patience” as it tackles nearly four times the normal number of burst pipes due to freezing temperatures.

At this time of year the company normally expects to get 75 new leaks reported a day across its 20,000-mile network of pipes across the Thames Valley and in London but it is getting nearly 300. In what forecasters are warning could be the coldest December in 100 years, the company issued a plea to its 14 million customers to help out by reporting burst and leaking pipes via its free 24-hour leakline, 0800 714 614.

Steve Shine, Thames Water’s chief operating officer, said: “We need everyone’s help and patience as we deal with this challenging situation. We’re sorry for the unavoidable hassle our roadworks cause, but we urge people to remember these jobs are must-dos.

“At times like this we have to prioritise repair jobs in order of severity, so please bear with us if we do not respond as speedily as we do normally.”

Thames Water increased the number of leak-fixing crews by 40 per cent at the end of October, before temperatures plummeted Water pipes, especially the old cast-iron ones, break more frequently when water in reservoirs cools below 5 degrees C. Thames Water cut leakage by 27 per cent between 2005 and 2010.