A MAJOR road in Burnley town centre is expected to be closed for several days after a 12-inch water main burst, sending tens of thousands of gallons pouring towards shops.

A section of Hammerton Street between Westgate and Manchester Road has been closed after the burst lifted parts of the road surface and left gaping holes elsewhere.

Staff from the nearby Crown Court watched in amazement as a torrent of water streamed down the road. Worried shop owners watched as the water lapped at their doorsteps, but the fire brigade set up a temporary "dam" and diverted the water into an open culvert carrying the River Calder. A woman who injured her leg after falling down one of the holes was taken to Burnley General Hospital for treatment.

Burnley Council highways supervisor Tony Loftus said the flood not only damaged the road surface but also washed away the ground under the Tarmacadam.

Garage boss Jim Bull said the water appeared "just like a tidal wave". He saw the road collapse right outside his garage near the junction with Manchester Road.

"I just turned round and couldn't believe my eyes," he said. "I had to move my cars away before they got swallowed up."

A North West Water press spokesman said: "There was a major water mains burst which led part of the road and the footpath to collapse. The road is likely to remain closed for several days while we assess the damage and repairs are made.

"Some people in the area were without water for about an hour and 2,000 properties were affected but we managed to re-zone the supply and get it back on."

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