A solicitor is celebrating a dry but merry festive season after an intervention from The Argus and a U-turn from Southern Water.

Graham Scott, 57, of Hayling Rise, Worthing, contacted the paper following a wrangle with the water company which began in September when a water main under his front garden burst.

He also wrote to Southern Water managing director Stuart Derwent in a bid to get the leak repaired before Christmas.

The day after The Argus took up his case, Mr Scott received a personal call from Mr Derwent and workmen later arrived and fixed the main.

Yet only hours earlier, Southern Water said the leak was Mr Scott's responsibility because it came from a private pipe on his property.

Mr Scott said he first realised there was a problem at the end of September when his water bill was three times higher than normal.

Investigations revealed a burst pipe under concrete near his front door and Southern Water sent workmen to repair the leak.

But Mr Scott said it wasn't repaired properly.

His garden wall was acting like a dam and near to collapse while water running along the street was freezing at night, causing a hazard to pedestrians.

Southern Water told him he must pay £485 plus VAT to have the leak repaired but Mr Scott, who has received seven visits by water company officials and had "umpteen" phone calls, said: "It wasn't repaired in the first place."

Mr Scott said: "My wall was bowing out and about to collapse. Water was going into the street. Thousands of gallons have been lost.

"When they come to repair a leak you don't expect water to be gushing out in your garden.

"It is scandalous. They want you to pay about £500 for something they never put right in the first place."

Just before Christmas Day, a spokesman for Southern Water said: "It is a private supply pipe and it is not Southern Water's pipe or responsibility.

"The first leak that appeared we mended for him free of charge as a goodwill gesture.

"Since then there has been a separate leak and unfortunately, because it is a private pipe, it is Mr Scott's responsibility.

"We can give him a quote for a repair and he is free to get a quote from any other contractor."

However, a day later there had been a change of heart. Mr Scott said: "I am sure the possibility of something in the Press helped."

The Southern Water spokesman said: "It is a gesture of goodwill. It is a private pipe and therefore strictly his responsibility, but because of the ongoing difficulties he has experienced we have gone to repair it.

"We are very happy to help Mr Scott during this festive period but it is an isolated case."