Redbridge Council and water companies are denying responsibility for a mystery water leak that ran in Redbridge for three months.

Resident Martin Greenberg, of Roding Lane South, said he reported water running from a man hole in Woodford Bridge Road in October to water companies and Redbridge Council.

He said: “It’s a steady stream all the time running across the pavement and into the road.

“I’m worried about people walking on it when it freezes over in the cold weather.

“It’s very dangerous and there are a lot of elderly people here.”

Mr Greenberg, who is the chairman of Clayhall United Synagogue, added that on Jewish sabbath the congregation cannot avoid walking across the leak because they are not allowed to drive.

A Thames Water spokesman said engineers visited the site on October 19 but found it was not coming from their pipes.

He added: “We believe this is ground water leaking from a nearby drain and so we notified the local council.”

But a Redbridge Council spokesman said officers had notified Thames Water of the problem after discovering it on November 19 and the water company “confirmed that they would deal with the matter”.

He added: “Thames Water visited the site on 14 December and could not find a leak and said that no action was necessary.”

On Monday, council officers also visited the site and confirmed the leak had stopped.

It is not known why the leak stopped or what caused it in the first place.

The council spokesman added: “Thames Water Utility and the council will monitor the location in case the leak re-emerges so any appropriate action can be taken.”