A main road into Braintree resembled a river after a water main burst.


Residents of Rayne Road watched from their windows as vehicles create waves outside their homes this afternoon.

Fire fighters and the police are on scene as water gushed along an 80-metre stretch of the road, between the Texaco garage and Brandon Road, from about 5.30pm today.


An Anglian Water spokesman said: "We think the burst is in Malyon Close and it's a 12-inch main, which is quite a big one.

"We don't think it will be a big deal for us to fix it. We will be fixing it this evening.

"Six people have rung in to tell us they don't have water."

Two fire crews from Braintree and one from Halstead attended the scene.

Fire fighters reported that seven properties, a number of commercial units and the ambulance station were affected by flooding.

 

Fire crews used a light portable pump and hoses to divert and remove the water from the properties.

By 6.56pm, the damaged water main had been isolated. 

However, crews remained on scene pumping out the excess water.