Gloucester flooding: Tankers pump water to hospital after main bursts

Cirencester firefighters have been using pumps capable of clearing 7,000 litres of water per minute

Tankers have been pumping water directly to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital after supplies were affected by a burst water main.

Barnwood Road in Gloucester was flooded on Monday when one of the area's biggest water supply pipes burst.

The hospital has said it is "not anticipating any water shortages" as it has reserves that can last two days.

The road remains closed while "complex" repairs continue, Severn Trent has said.

In an update the supplier said engineers isolated the burst main on Monday evening while fire crews pumped water away from the leak.

The spokesperson said: "Our engineers isolated the burst yesterday and have restored water supplies by pumping water into the system and moving water around our network in a different way.

"Now that water supplies are back on, our focus is making the repair as quickly as we can and getting everything back to normal.

"This will be a complex repair due to other utility cables in the area, however it is our priority to fix it as quickly, and safely as possible."

Firefighters started pumping the floodwater away on Monday night

They added the road will remain closed to keep workers safe as repairs are carried out.

"We will also be continuing to use tankers in the area to ensure supplies remain on for everyone while the repair work is under way," the spokesperson said.

Severn Trent apologised to customers affected by the burst main and road closure.

"We're really sorry for the inconvenience this is causing, especially as we understand that this is a busy road," Severn Trent added.

The supplier has said the problem was likely caused by recent freezing temperatures that can put pressure on pipe joints, causing them to leak or burst.

Clara Hudson, who has lived on Barnwood Road for 55 years, said: "I've never seen anything like it - I've got no water or electricity."

Clara Hudson said she had never seen the road so badly flooded

She added the water level had been rising "all the time".

People living in homes close to Barnwood Road have been told their power may be disrupted while the water is pumped away.

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