HUNDREDS of people woke up to find themselves without water after a burst main.

At around 7am on Wednesday, Northumbrian Water received a report that the main water pipe at New Elvet, Durham City, near Scruffy Murphy's pub, was leaking on to the road.

Staff liaised with police and traffic wardens to seal off the area. Diversions were put in place, bringing rush-hour traffic to a standstill.

Children at St Oswald's C of E Infant School, on Church Street, were sent home for the morning. Within two hours, a temporary water supply had been restored, but staff were expecting the main repair to take some time. It had been completed by the following day.

A Northumbrian Water spokesman said: "The burst main led to water spilling on to the road surface and there was some lifting of the pavement. It immediately affected a few hundred customers but we do not know the exact cause."