Burst mains floods homes and closes roads

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

Closures are 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".

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."

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 he daughter and husband who came and started moving things and firefighters helped her out the house, "because the water was up to the steps".

Marilyn, who did not want to give her surname, and lives in Pennine Way, 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."

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

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

St Luke's Primary Care Centre said it was without mains water and had activated a continuity plan - and it 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 with has an appointment is asked to attend as normal.

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