Whitworth Road flooded

Whitworth Road flood

A water mains has burst flooding Whitworth Road near to Dunelm; traffic trying to turn up Whitworth Road is being turned back and traffic coming down Whitworth Road is being diverted along Haynes Street.

The flood is extensive and is flowing over the railings at Dunelm and sand bags have been placed outside the Tanners Arms.

Police and the fire service are in attendance.

United Utilities has confirmed a water main has burst and they are sending out a team out to investigate.

Some properties in the area have no water and others reduced pressure. United Utilities has apologised and said: "We’re sorry about this and will try and get your taps flowing normally as quickly as we can."

UPDATE (5.25pm)
Our reporter is on the scene and says there is a huge amount of water and police have now closed the road.

UPDATE (6.50pm)
United Utilities engineers have started work to try and restore water to those without.

It is understood there is a large crack in a mains pipe in the middle of Whitworth Road and repair work will require extensive excavation and is likely to take a number of weeks. 

Tarmac on the surface of the road is cracked and lifted

UPDATE (8.00pm)
In order to help get some water flowing through taps again United Utilities is in the process of moving water from a different area whilst sorting out the burst. When the water does come back on, you may find that it doesn’t flow as much as the pressure will be lower, but they are working as quickly as they can to get taps flowing back to normal again.

UPDATE (10.00pm)
United Utilities has now completed re-routing water from another area, so supplies should have been reinstated albeit at a lower pressure.

It would be advisable to avoid the bottom of Whitworth Road for the foreseeable future as it is understood repairs are going to take some time and will continue to cause traffic disruption.