Burst water pipe causes Blackburn road to collapse

Residents watched in shock as water shot up through the road surface of Lime Street, off Shear Brow, Blackburn, at around 11.30am today.

One woman said she had been left with at least £40,000 worth of damage to her property after water flooded her basement and ground floor.

United Utilities engineers arrived after being alerted by police. They expect to have repaired the pipe tomorrow.

It will then take up to three days to repair the road, but bosses are hopeful the work will be completed by Friday.

Lime Street will be closed at its junction with Bicknell Street until this is done.

Aishah Patel, 49, of Lime Street, estimates around £40,000 damage was caused when around five feet of her cellar was full of water and seven inches on the ground floor.

She said: “There was a big gush of water that came through the garage, then the kitchen and the living room.

“I was outside when it burst and tried to get into my house. I was in a panic, but I couldn’t get through the front door because of the water.

“Everything is ruined. All the electrics are downstairs.

“I was shocked.”

Loss adjusters from United Utilities were at the scene liaising with Aishah about the damage to her home.

Firoza Diveli, 17, of Bicknell Street, said: “The pipe just burst around 11.30am and it looked like a water fountain.

“Loads of people came out to see what had happened. If the road is going to be closed for a few days, it’s going to be a nightmare for people.”

Aishah Iqbal, 17, of Bicknell Street, said: “There was a big flood and there were people running everywhere. It was a shock to see something like that happen.”

A spokesman for United Utilities said: “Police called United Utilities’ engineers to the location when part of the road collapsed causing flooding to one property at the end of Lime Street.

“Loss adjusters from United Utilities are at the scene liaising with the property owner.

“Water to residents in the area is not affected.“