STARBUCKS is to stop using a cleaning system which pours millions of litres of water down the drain at its coffee shops across the world.

Last week it was revealed the chain, which has a cafe in Calverley Road in Tunbridge Wells, and two branches in Tonbridge, kept a tap running non-stop at all its outlets.

The sink, called a dipper well, was used for washing spoons and utensils. In the firm's outlets across the world saw more than 23 million litres of water wasted each day.

That would fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool every 83 minutes or provide enough water to satisfy the entire two million-strong population of drought-hit Namibia.

The firm defended the system by saying it only kept the tap running during opening hours.

Readers commenting on our website were outraged at the news.

Andrew Ford, of Tunbridge Wells, said: "What a waste of water! Maybe we should boycott Starbucks in Tunbridge Wells until they stop doing this?"

Willy Cawood, from the USA, said: "I would think if every store location runs the water all day every day the savings would be great enough to hire a team of 50 people to sit around and drink free coffee for a month with double pay and find a new way to wash spoons. What a real joke."

And Torquil commented: "Why the hell can't they turn the tap on when they need it and off when they don't?

"It's not rocket science and surely wouldn't break any health and safety regulations.

"Americans, eh? Bad eggs the lot of them!"

But now we can reveal the chain is to turn off the taps after the public outcry. A Starbucks spokeswoman said: "From last Friday in all Starbucks UK and Ireland stores we have introduced a new interim operational procedure.

"Stores will be instructed to switch off the dipper well tap and will wash spoons after use.

"In this way we can ensure we balance UK and Ireland food hygiene requirements with water conservation.

"Starbucks continues to strive to look at ways to reduce our water consumption going forward."