Oxford delays at Heyford Hill roundabout due to burst water main

Drivers are experiencing major delays after a large water pipe burst, flooding a roundabout.

Thames Valley Police and Thames Water were called to Heyford Hill roundabout, outside Littlemore in Oxford, where the road was underwater.

The roundabout is closed in both directions and police said there was significant disruption to the A34 and surrounding roads.

Parts of Oxford have experienced low water pressure or no water.

Thames Water, which said it received 150 calls throughout the morning, apologised to both customers and drivers.

A spokesperson for the company said engineers at the site stopped the flow of water from the burst main, and that its engineers would be "working through the night" to improve the flow of water into the area.

A burst water main flooded a roundabout in Oxford leaving the road underwater

But it said issues were likely to continue into Wednesday morning, and that it was looking to provide bottled supplies.

"We're also delivering bottled water to our customers who have pre-registered with us as having special requirements, such as being medically reliant on water," it added.

The company had tankers on site to take the water away from the dual carriageway while others pumped water into the network.

Roads have been closed in both directions and buses have been diverted

Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for highways management, told the BBC the water company "need to do better".

"Thames Water have got some serious questions to answer about their maintenance and investment in their kit because this is causing havoc," he said.

"Our highways people will be out there trying to keep the city going but, of course, it's massive disruption and it's not something that people should have to put up with on a working day, a school day or any day," Mr Gant added.

Oxfordshire County Council warned of major delays on all approaches to the roundabout, particularly the A423 from Kennington and the A4142 from Cowley.

Rose Hill Primary School and John Henry Newman Academy have shut due to them having no water.

Oxfordshire County Council said: "A major water leak has led to the closure of the A4142 westbound between Rose Hill Roundabout, Littlemore and Heyford Hill roundabout, creating significant traffic problems in the city and also the A34.

"The A423 is also closed eastbound between Kennington Roundabout and Heyford Hill.

"Thames Water is leading on repairing the problem and working with Oxfordshire County Council, Thames Valley Police, the Environment Agency, National Highways, and other partners, but drivers are asked to avoid travelling into Oxford as many roads are congested."

It confirmed to the BBC that the LTN bollards on Crowell Road have been "temporarily removed to ease traffic pressure in the Cowley area".