Beeston: Clean-up under way after damaged pipe floods homes

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Media caption,

Water was sent shooting over houses in Beeston after a pipe was damaged

Clean-up work is continuing after a damaged pipe sent water shooting high into the air.

About 10 houses were evacuated near Gwenbrook Avenue and Lime Grove Avenue in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, at about 13:30 GMT on Tuesday.

Severn Trent said the leak was caused by a third party's building work and the pipe had since been repaired.

Trams are still suspended between Toton Lane and University Boulevard while the water subsides.

Image source, Airlessmean
Image caption,

Spray from the ruptured pipe covered several homes and part of Nottingham's tram network

Residents said that rocks were thrown into the air by the pipe and smashed windows.

Among them was Craig Henson, who said: "One of the rocks hit my foot, although it seems to be fine, but the house is completely flooded and ruined."

Image caption,

Prof John Coyne and his wife Julie said water got through the roof and ran into their rooms

Prof John Coyne and his wife Julie, whose house was hit by the water jet, told BBC Radio Nottingham they had been caught in a hurricane in Cuba but this was "10 times worse".

"We had the misfortune to be directly under the plume, taking the full force," he said.

"So we have suffered water penetration from above right through the house, with water dripping through electricals and filling up the ground floor.

"There is an air brick a foot up the wall and water was literally flowing through it."

Jessica Stratford said she was still shocked that the glass rear doors of her house were shattered by flying debris.

"We are talking it hour by hour at the moment," she said.

"Friends and family have kindly offered to help and we will take it stage by stage for the big clean-up and get it back to some sort of normality."

Image source, Stapleford Fire Station
Image caption,

The damaged pipe caused major flooding

A Severn Trent spokesperson said a "small number of homes" were experiencing low water pressure on Wednesday morning as repair work continued.

"Due to the severity of the damage caused by third party construction contractors to our mains network and the subsequent complex repairs required, our teams worked through the night and will continue into this morning to complete our investigations and the repairs," the firm said.

"We're continuing to work with the local authorities and services to get everything back to normal as soon as possible and we'd like to thank everybody for their understanding as we work hard to make these complex repairs."

Tram passengers can use tickets and passes on Orange line buses.

Image caption,

Windows and roof tiles were broken on houses near the damaged water pipe

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