The elderly and children are among Plumstead residents left with no running water for six weeks which a pensioner says caused his wife to have a stroke.

Just before Christmas construction work busted a water pipe in Plumstead Road.

Despite attempts to repair it, residents claim a catalogue of errors have occurred resulting in dry taps since the festive season.

Thames Water, blasted by families for not fixing the problem, claim their hands are tied as the pipe is not their responsibility.

But with no end in sight, pensioner Noldie Francis, 77, says his wife suffered a stroke last week due to the stress.

Mr Francis, who has been married to his 76-year-old wife, Patsy, for over 30 years, told News Shopper: “People are suffering, what we have gone through in the last six weeks, no one would realise.

“My wife had a mild stroke and we assume it’s been caused by the pressure of living with no water.

“When the paramedics were here they asked if she’s been under any stress recently, I pointed to all the bottles.

MORE TOP STORIES “We have to use bottled water to wash, we can’t use the washing machine.

“I boil water and pour it into the bath, because my wife can’t bend down in the bath I have put a stool in the bath.

“Imagine for someone who is sick, she’s old and we have no water.

“We can’t use the washing machine, can’t flush the toilet."

He says around eight houses are affected, and only in the last week or so did Thames Water start delivering bottles of water after Greenwich Councillors got involved.

A spokesman for Thames Water said: “We sympathise with the customers affected by the damage to the shared, private water pipe, which is not part of our network.

“It is the responsibility of the property owner involved to have the damage repaired.”

Retired Mr Francis added: “I’m angry Thames Water haven’t fixed it even if it’s not their responsibility.

“They could have come and fixed the pipe, I feel that they’re a big enough company.

“Even if it’s not directly them they should have done something.

“I feel Thames water are to blame.”

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Noldie Francis

As well as his sick wife, who he has to look after, he claims his neighbour has two children under five, also have no running water.

Neighbour Usman Zafar, 24, is at his wits end after fruitless attempts to fix the problem.

The delivery driver said: “The issue started two or three days before Christmas, it’s almost been six weeks.

“We just opened the tap and there was very low pressure.

“Thames Water came and fixed the pipe, but then the pipe busted again. They can’t figure out where the leak is now.

“We have been trying to figure out whose house it is.

“But because it’s in someone’s private property, they have to do it themselves.

“We’re are suffering and Thames Water are saying they can’t do anything.”

Mr Zafar, who lives with his hospital worker brother, 26-year-old Arslan, says as well as no water they have been left with no heating.

He added: “We’re going to friend’s houses to take a shower and do our laundry.

News Shopper:

Usman Zafar, nieces Hajra (1) and Fatima(3) Nazakat, Noldie Francis, and Salah Abdullah

“I can’t use the bathroom or turn the heating on, it’s really cold.

“There’s a family next door with two children aged three and one and a half years old.

“They’re without water or heating.”

Coun Jackie Smith, member for community safety and environment, said: “Residents had to deal with a prolonged period without proper running water, something that should have been sorted weeks ago.

“We have urged Thames Water to take action and understand that they are now doing so.”

The residents added they should be entitled to some form of compensation, and implored Thames Water to fix the problem.