Scottish Water were forced to abandon plans to repair a leaking hydrant in Falkland on Wednesday after local businesses complained they had not been given enough notice that their water supply was about to be cut off.

A hairdressers on the High Street was busy with customers when they were given just 20 minutes' notice their supply was to be cut. Scott Robb Hairdressing said there was "no way" he would have been able to safely stop dealing with his customers.

Local councillor David MacDiarmid branded Scottish Water's handling of the situation as unacceptable. The utility company have now confirmed the work will be carried out next week.

Scott Robb's salon was busy on Wednesday morning when a representative from Scottish water visited him at 11am. "They came in and said they were going to cut off the supply in 20 minutes but we had eight customers in at that point," Scott said.

"Some were getting colours done and if we had just washed it out their hair would have gone orange. The chemicals that we use have to be rinsed off only when they are ready to come out.

"It's a health and safety issue and my reputation is also at stake - we can't just stop half way through and send our customers away. Why can't they do it at night or outwith business hours? I asked them but they just said they couldn't do it then."

Howe of Fife and Tay Coast Councillor David MacDiarmid visited Falkland on Wednesday afternoon to view the section of road that had been dug up and speak to the business's affected.

He said: "Scottish Water are going to have to get their act together, they have handled this all wrong. My main concern at the moment is that the hole in the road will now fill up with water and you wouldnt want a child to fall in there.

"I first reported it three months ago and then again a few weeks ago but they just carried out a temporary repair by tightening the valve.

This is an emergency repair, no ifs or buts - the work needs to be carried out. It's totally unacceptable to be in this situation when we are going to have thousands of people here on Saturday for the festival."

Forty two stalls have been organised for different points on the High Street on Saturday as part of the Falkland Festival. Euan Stark, chair of the festival, is now worried that some of them will have to be moved or cancelled now that part of the street has been dug up.

And Falkland shop owner, Bob Beveridge, has hit out at the length of time it has taken Scottish Water to try and repair the hydrant. He said: "There have been gallons and gallons of water pouring down the High Street for weeks now. And, when they finally decide to do something about it, they just turn up without notice and say they are cuttting the supply off. It simply isn't good enough"

A spokesman for Scottish Water said: "Hydrants are the responsibility of the fire brigade, although Scottish Water helps in maintaining them. "Initially, engineers planned to carry out the repair immediately on Wednesday, However, following discussions with local businesses, this was not possible.

''Following further liaison with traders, the work has been scheduled for next Thursday (July 2) in order to specifically suit the needs of local businesses. The leaking hydrant has been isolated and the resulting shallow excavation has been signed, lit and guarded in co-ordance with the Streetworks Act.

''Those customers who will be affected by next week's short shut off will be notified by letter well in advance of the work."