Water swamps road after pipe bursts
An underground pipe burst in a Wolverhampton street, cracking a pavement and sending water gushing down the road.
The main burst in Gower Street, All Saints, yesterday.
Passer-by Tom Stokes said: "I noticed it at about noon and had to follow it to find the source of it as it had spread to the playing fields and Steelhouse Lane.
"There was lots of water on the footpath on Gower Street."
He said a drain had also blocked on Gower Street and added: "I used some wellies to scrape the drain clear.
"There was quite a substantial amount of water coming down the road compared to normal."
Mr Stokes said it took him about half an hour to source the outbreak of the leak to Gower Street.
Resident Linda Sempa also tried to unblock one of the street's drains using a brush in a bid to try and clear some of the water from the street.
Water company Severn Trent said workers were called to the site of the burst at 10.45am yesterday morning.
Severn Trent Spokeswoman Sarah O'Cain said: "The burst was located under some scaffolding so we had to contact the firm to get them to remove it."
She added that the pavement had been lifted up by the power of the burst causing some damage but said no properties were affected.
The firm says a leak was also reported on Bath Road in Wolverhampton city centre as well as Lower Prestwood Road in Wednesfield yesterday while company engineers are also out at Dickens road in Bushbury today dealing with a problem with the sewers in the area.
Officials from the firm say they aim to fix leaks as quickly as possible but their average repair time is five days although it can take longer depending on issues such as traffic management.
The drama comes a week after a pipe burst in the busy Cleveland Street, in Wolverhampton city centre, leaving more than 1,000 homes, businesses and shops without water.
The burst in the 10ins main sent water gushing up through a drain and on to the road.
Some businesses in the city centre, including cafes, were unable to open as they had no cold or hot water and others were forced to buy in supplies of bottled water to be able to make tea and coffee for customers.
