A DIGGER is being used to block water pouring out of a burst water main as the road beneath can be heard cracking and splitting.
The burst main in Liverpool Road in Ronkswood, Worcester, is now covered by the arm of a digger to try and divert the water away from people's homes and plug the fountain of flood water.
Residents remain concerned about the Liverpool Road burst water main - as a digger is used to block the leak. Beneath the arm of the digger was a heavy-duty plastic cover forming a sort of makeshift plug yet water was still gushing out as crackling and splintering sounds echoed around the road this evening.
Severn Trent Water officials are on the scene and a police cordon remains in force this evening with the water continuing to pour out of a hole in the road which has thrown debris and rocks into the air.
However, people were allowed to pass through the cordon on foot but were advised by officers not to remain there for long.
The road surface is visibly deformed by the pressure of water rising up from beneath.
READ MORE: Water pours from Liverpool Road after mains burst
READ MORE: Liverpool Road - tarmac begins to break due to burst main
Wayne Davies, 51, was concerned his property could flood but said since the measure was taken by Severn Trent, the water had drained away.
"It's one of those things. Luckily I was off work today and at home to deal with it. I saw quite a few rocks flying up with the force of the water. I had to move my car out of the way at around 9.10am. I think this leak is going to be going on all night now," he said.
Patricia Butler of Chelmsford Drive said: "It's just one of those freak of nature things. The police have done a brilliant job. They have kept a cool head with everybody.
"It's just a worry being self-employed whether we can get out in the morning and how long the council are going to take to fix the road.
"They told us they would not be able to fix this one until the Red Hill one was fixed."
The burst water main was breaking up tarmac, creating a pile of rubble around the jet of water.
The high pressure jet caused by the burst main had been pushing large volumes of water 40 feet into the air since 9am this morning.
Severn Trent have been at the scene of another burst water main on Red Hill Lane, Worcester, which is the reason why the Liverpool Road burst has not yet been fixed.
A Severn Trent spokesperson said: “We’re sorry if you’re still experiencing supply interruptions due to a burst water pipe near Red Hill Lane that occurred at 4.30am.
"Our teams attended the location to get most properties back on supply an hour later.
“Due to the complex repair and deep excavation, the fix is taking longer than we first anticipated, and we’re working hard to get this resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“Our teams are responding to another burst main at Liverpool Road, and a road closure is in place.
"We’re sorry to anybody impacted by this, and we’re working hard to resolve the issue, which can be fixed once the Red Hill Lane burst is repaired.”
There is no indication of how long the water leak or road closure will continue.
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