Water blocks busy route

Torrents of water spilled out on a busy Dudley road after a culvert became blocked, causing disruption as a main route was sealed off.

Dudley Council workers were called to the junction of Coppice Lane and Saltwells Road, Netherton, at 8.45am today.

Click on the image on the right to see more pictures from the scene.

Water was cascading into a dip in the road with water steadily rising. Workers said it was not yet known what had caused the blockage and said no homes or businesses nearby had been affected.

A pump was brought in to move the water from one side of the blocked culvert to the other.

Coppice Lane was closed off at its junction with Merry Hill, near to the shopping centre, to Saltwells Road, a stretch of nearly a mile. Further pumps were requested from the Highways Agency to help remove the pooling water. Dudley Council said some drivers had misjudged the levels of water earlier this morning and got stuck.

The AA was called to help remove the vehicles and get them back on their way.

People living along the closed road were being permitted access to and from their properties. Dudley Council spokesman Jill Wakeman said some damage had been caused to the roadway and this would have to be addressed before it was reopened.