Burst water pipe wreaks havoc

Homes, schools and firms in Oldbury and Rowley Regis were left without water today after a water main burst, ripping up a hotel car park.

Thousands of gallons poured out of the burst pipe at the Holiday Inn Express car park in Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury, leaving around 200 homes with no water.

In Rowley Regis schools including Blackheath Primary, in Britannia Road, St Michael's High School and Whiteheath Pupil Referral Unit both in Throne Road, were forced to close for the day.

The water caused holes to open up across the hotel car park, some measuring up to seven feet wide and five feet deep. One driver moved his van just in time to stop falling into one of the holes.

The water main burst just after 5.30am and South Staffs Water were expected to be at the scene most of today fixing the pipe.

Bosses said it is too early to tell what caused the burst, or when water would be switched back on for homes schools and businesses.

Customer liaison manager Steve Perks said: "The damage this has caused is tremendous, the water pipe is really powerful.

"It's hard to know at this stage what has actually caused the burst, it could be anything. It could be to do with the weather, I don't know.

"We have got to dig a hole in the ground now and find out what has actually happened.

"That section of pipe will have to be replaced and that could take several hours.

"We will then look to clean up the car park and repair the block paving."

Anthony Greenidge, general manager at the Holiday Inn, told of how hotel guests were woken to move their cars after water started flooding the car park this morning.