Homes evacuated after burst pipe floods roads

Some 30 residents have been forced to leave their homes after a burst water main in north London left some areas under about 16in (40cm) of water.

About 70 firefighters were deployed to the incident on Canonbury Street, Islington, just before 22:00 BST on Sunday, where they used flood barriers and sandbags to divert flood water away from homes, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.

People are being advised to avoid the area, including Essex Road, Elmore Street, Halliford Street and Ecclesbourne Road and urged not to drive through flood water.

Supplier Thames Water said it was "working to stop the flow of water from the burst pipe" and that it would then focus on locating the damage and fixing it.

The provider said addresses in some areas had no water supply on Monday morning, while others were experiencing low pressure.

Barriers to divert water from homes were erected in the early hours of Monday

'A river in the street'

A video filmed by LFB appeared to show deep water gushing along a road lined with cars.

Canonbury Street resident Ben Esdale told the BBC he first saw water "gurgling" up through his bath plughole on Sunday evening.

He then looked over the balcony of his first-floor flat to see "a massive pool of water".

"Then I looked out the front and it was like a little geyser in the middle of the road shooting water up into the air.

"It was literally like a river in the street".

Mr Esdale, 29, said that, shortly afterwards, a ground floor resident called on neighbours to come along with towels to help mop up water entering his home.

"It was all hands on deck to help our friend on the ground floor.

"There were about five of us on towel duty because water was coming into his living room.

"We were just piling the towels down and then on rotation we were running into the bathroom, ringing them out, bringing them back, ringing them out. We had mops, every cloth, because it was just coming in."

He also described cars on the road as being "under a foot of water".

The water flow has now stopped, but the affected areas have been covered with a "layer of dirt" and some cars have been flooded, Mr Esdale says.

Thames Water said it had stopped the flow of water and the area had been made safe

Canonbury Street is closed while repairs are carried out

Thames Water apologised for disruption to the local water supply, but has not said how many properties were affected.

The supplier said: "We have now managed to stop the flow of water and ensure that the site is safe.

"We have also been able to move parked cars which were over another critical water main."

It added that it was assisting customers who had been affected.

Residents who were asked to leave their homes have been supported by the local authority.

Those who were unable to stay with friends or family were placed in temporary accommodation, Islington Council said.

A spokesperson added: "We are working closely with Thames Water and the London Fire Brigade to resolve the situation, clean up the area and assess the damage.

"Canonbury Street remains closed from Essex Road up to Aaron Walk. We ask the public to avoid the area while we carry out essential work."