A businessman says his trade has been "killed stone-dead" by a road closure to fix a water leak. Jason Tharp, who runs the George Inn, in Leeds, near Maidstone, said the South East Water "emergency" works came without warning on Monday (August 4).

Since then, his business has dropped off and today (August 6) the pub has no bookings at all. Mr Tharp, who runs the business with his wife Debbie, said: "We knew it was coming because we saw the leak between the church and the school but there was no warning.

"As it is classed as an 'emergency', they do not have to tell anyone and it also means we cannot claim compensation for the lost trade. It's killed our trade stone-dead.

"We had a really good weekend and then this happens. The profitability goes through the floor.

"They fixed the leak i

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