Burst water main floods homes and closes roads

Large parts of Northampton have been without water and several roads remain closed after a mains pipe burst, spilling water on to several streets.

Closures were put in place in the Duston area from Mendip Road to Cotswold Avenue, and Chiltern Avenue to Malvern Grove and Bants Lane.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was called at 01:30 BST and crews helped evacuate homes affected by the flooding.

Anglian Water said its engineers worked "quickly to restore supplies to customers, and everyone should now be back on water", but some low pressure would remain.

It apologised to customers and said it was "continuing to work on fixing the pipe".

"We are also aware that some properties have been flooded as a result of the incident, and our teams are supporting those affected.

"We'd like to thank our customers in Northampton for bearing with us while we get things back to normal."

It added it expected some road closures "to remain in place until the end of the week".

It said during hot weather, increased water usage put pressure on the company's network which could lead to bursts and low pressure. Dry ground conditions also increase the likelihood of burst mains.

Jean Rowland, 82, who lives in Duston, said when she got up at 01:30 she noticed there was no power, her feet were wet and there was a "torrential noise".

She said all her floors had been flooded, as well as her garden and she and her husband had been left very tired.

"I don't know what to do really, I cannot believe it," she said.

"It worries me because of knowing how long we're going to be out and being looked after by others."

At the moment she said she does not know where she will be sleeping tonight.

Jan Donald, 76, said she got up at about 03:30 to flooding in her home.

"My feet were wet and I realised the whole of the bedroom carpet was wet," she said.

"The kitchen was three inches under water and then I realised obviously something had happened.

"The fire brigade turned up and told me that there'd been a water burst in Mendip Road."

She said she called her daughter and husband who came and started moving things, and firefighters helped her out of the house "because the water was up to the steps".

Marilyn, who did not want to give her surname, lives on Pennine Way and said she woke up at about 04:30 to the road full of fire engines and flashing lights.

"The water was just gushing up from everywhere," she said.

"The street was like a lake, it was bellowing up through the drains, the drains couldn't take it away.

"It was just horrendous, I've never seen anything quite like it."

Another resident, Imre Berg, said: "As soon as I opened the back door the water was gushing out of the drain, coming up about a foot high and running down here."

He said he had been working to get the water out of his garage with a pump, as he said it "would be there for months".

The Duston School said it opened as usual and was not impacted.

St Luke's Primary Care Centre said it was without mains water and had activated a continuity plan - and would remain open.

It said it did not have any toilet facilities available for patients and that "staff have appropriate hand hygiene and sanitising procedures in place to ensure services can continue safely".

Anyone who has an appointment has been asked to attend as normal.

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