THAMES Water has reacted angrily to claims by an MP it failed to react to a leaking water main which flooded a road.

John Austin, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, claimed the company did not arrive in North Road, Blevedere, until 13 hours after the leak was first reported by worried residents last Friday.

As a result, he claims, the road was flooded and homes in the street were at risk.

But Thames Water says it responded within 90 minutes to the first calls about the leak, which it received at 2.30pm on Friday afternoon, reducing the water flow and making arrangements for repairs.

Mr Austin, who lives nearby, was contacted by residents at about 7.30pm, by which time the water was level with the top of the kerb.

He said: "I contacted Thames Water immediately, demanding it turn out that evening. I was assured it would but it could not give me a time."

Mr Austin arrived at the scene at the same time as the fire brigade and the council's emergency officer arrived a few minutes later. Fireifghters pumped the water away.

But Mr Austin claims Thames Water engineers did not arrive until 10pm and the leak was finally repaired at 2am the following morning.

But a company spokesman said: "Mr Austin's summary of the timings are far from accurate and we strongly refute his claim."

She said 150 homes lost their water supply, but when the company got another call at 7.20pm to say the leak had worsened a contractor went to the scene and the water supply was shut off at 9.15pm.

Mr Austin has now complained to the company and watchdog Ofwat about Thames Water's slow response.