Angel Islington flooded by water main burst

About 100 people were evacuated from their flooded homes after a water main burst in north London.

Parts of Upper Street, Charlton Place, Camden Passage and Colebrooke Row near the Angel Islington were all closed.

The fire brigade said the water was 2m (6.5ft) deep in basement properties on Charlton Place.

Thames Water has apologised and said it would take several days to fix the pipe. London Fire Brigade said it had pumped water into a nearby canal.

Firefighters from Islington, Dowgate, Whitechapel, Bethnal Green, Shoreditch, Battersea and Edmonton stations are at the scene, and the Metropolitan Police's marine unit was also helping.

Stuart Rock said his kitchen was under 5ft of water...

and that his garden was a lake

The Steam Passage Tavern opened its doors to residents whose homes had been flooded.

Homeowner Trevor Turner said: "I woke up at 05:30 with essentially a river flowing down Charlton Place.

"We're just refurbishing our kitchen. The last bits of the tiling were due to happen this morning and some damp proofing as well."

Basement flats have been badly hit by the resultant flooding

Mary, another resident, said: "I woke up at 05:45 as I heard something.

About 100 people were evacuated from their homes

London fire Brigade pumped the water out to a canal

"I thought it was torrential rain so I put my head out the window and saw it was a torrential flood instead and then several policemen who were knocking on doors on the other side and said to evacuate."

Motorists were advised to avoid the usually busy area, with the southbound side of Upper Street closed.

A Thames Water spokesperson said the company was "supporting those whose properties were flooded" with help finding alternative accommodation and making insurance claims.

The company said repairs to the pipe would "continue throughout this week" with engineers working "24 hours a day to get the job done".

"It was our pipe that burst and it's our responsibility to put things right," the spokesperson said.

Richard Watts, leader of Islington Council, said the flood had "caused considerable damage and distress".