FIRST a fire devastated Nelson town centre -- then came the flood.
A burst water main outside Lambert's Market in Cross Street, which has been closed since a massive blaze destroyed the neighbouring former Grand Cinema, left disaster-hit traders wondering what catastrophe will hit next.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" said Peter Armfield, whose Cross Street hairdressing salon has suffered a major cut in trade since the Grand fire on May 28.
"We've had fire and now flood, what's next? Famine and pestilence I suppose. They say bad luck comes in threes."
The burst main lifted by several inches a large section of the street, with a river of water pouring past Peter's salon and along Cross Street. The salon is still open for business despite the double blow.
The road was closed allowing North West Water engineers to tackle the burst pipe, which only added to the disruption in the centre.
The burst happened around 1.30pm yesterday and the road opened for traffic today.
Market Street and the market is expected to stay closed until the middle of next month at the earliest, while the Grand is demolished.
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