A COUPLE are fuming after neighbours cut off the water supply they share before flying abroad for a two-week holiday.

Rob Grant, aged 31, and his fiance, Cara Nash, 23, have been told that because the stop tap controlling water supply for three houses in Middle Road, St John's, is inside the neighbouring house there is no way of getting in to turn it back on.

They came home from work on Tuesday afternoon to find dry taps.

And after a call to Severn Trent Water revealed that there were no problems with the main supply, they discovered that the stop tap for three terraced houses in the street was inside their neighbour's property.

"I've spoken to Severn Trent. I've called the police. I've tried to find out if they have left a spare key with anyone. But no one can help," said Mr Grant, who works as a design technician. "It is frustrating because no one can do anything about it. We have tried everything we can think of.

"We don't know anyone who might have a key, so we are resigned to the fact that we will have no mains water for a fortnight."

Late yesterday afternoon Severn Trent Water managed to fit an emergency "overland supply" to keep them going with drinking water until the holidaymakers return.

Fortunately, they have been able to go to Miss Nash's parents' house for showers - but for washing up, shaving and cooking they have had to fetch and carry buckets of water from outside the house.

A spokeswoman for Severn Trent said this was first case of this kind the company had come across.

She said while it was not unusual for terraced houses to share water pipes, it was unusual for the stop tap to be inside one of the houses. But neither they, nor the police could legally gain access to the stop tap because it is on private property.

A spokeswoman for Worcester police said: "Our powers are limited to preserving life and property and as such this unusual situation doesn't fit that criteria."