Updated: Burst water main floods south Essex homes (From Echo)

Updated: Burst water main floods south Essex homes

7:50am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Basildon

A CLEAN-UP operation is under way after homes were flooded in South Woodham Ferrers.

Essex and Suffolk Water has sent its contractors into homes in East Bridge Road to dry them out with specialist equipment.

It came after a water main burst, sending thousands of litres of water down the road into people's homes and gardens.

Essex and Suffolk Water, which admitted liability, said the repair bill could run into tens of thousands of pounds.

Residents in East Bridge Road called police shortly after 6.30am today, Tuesday February 7, to report that water was gushing from a drain in the street.

Parts of Hullbridge were also left without mains water but it is not known yet if the two incidents are connected.

As a result, Riverside Primary School in Hullbridge was closed for the day.

Residents said local shops ran out of bottled water.