Hundreds flee homes as water main floods north London streets

People in 150 properties were forced to flee their homes after a water main burst on a north London street.

The 30-inch pipe sent thousands of gallons of water into the homes and businesses in Stoke Newington on Sunday.

Streets around Northwold Road were flooded and in some places the water was over a metre deep.

But a spokesman for London Fire Brigade said that these levels quickly receded once the water main had been isolated.

Meanwhile, people were sent to Stoke Newington Town Hall, where a rest centre was set-up.

Station Manager Nicol McCallum was one of about 40 firefighters at the scene and said: "Crews used specialist inflatable boats to evacuate the most vulnerable



residents  and help others recover valuables.

"Firefighters laid down sandbags to try and minimise the water damage."

The flooding came just a day after similar scenes in Blackheath, south London, after a 12-inch pipe ruptured.

Also, on Monday, around 100 Islington residents had to leave their homes after a water main there burst.

Thames Water director Bob Collington said on the company's Twitter account: "It has been an extremely difficult week.

"I'm personally devastated for customers flooded so close to Christmas.

"We are doing everything we can to help customers and will make sure they are not left out of pocket for what has happened."