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Regent Street still under repair after flooding | Regent Street still under repair after flooding |
(about 13 hours later) | |
One of London's busiest shopping streets remains under repair due to flooding from a burst water main. | One of London's busiest shopping streets remains under repair due to flooding from a burst water main. |
Regent Street was closed to traffic between Conduit Street and Piccadilly Circus at lunchtime on Saturday. | |
Some 15 shops were blocked off by a cordon set up by firefighters, following the rupture near Vigo Street. | Some 15 shops were blocked off by a cordon set up by firefighters, following the rupture near Vigo Street. |
Engineers later isolated the main and stopped water flowing. But a Thames Water spokesman said a team was still working to fix the problem. | Engineers later isolated the main and stopped water flowing. But a Thames Water spokesman said a team was still working to fix the problem. |
He apologised for the disruption and said it was hoped that one lane could be opened to traffic later. | |
He said footpaths were clear and all shops were able to open for Sunday trading. | |
The road closure has led to night-time and Sunday bus services being diverted. | |
'Road exploded' | 'Road exploded' |
A spokesman for New West End Company, which represents businesses in Regent Street, said some shops were able to re-open later on Saturday after pavements were cleared. | |
Alex Cousins, who was on a day trip to London from Sevenoaks, Kent, on Saturday had intended to visit clothing store Superdry, which was among those closed. | |
"It looks like the road exploded," he said. | "It looks like the road exploded," he said. |
Other shops in the affected area included Zara, Mango, Burberry, Austin Reed and Uniqlo. | |
More than 7.5 million tourists visit the street per year, according to New West End Company. | |
The cause of the burst is not yet known. | |
Martin Low, Westminster City Council's commissioner of transportation, said: "We have asked Thames Water for details of the age and condition of the pipework to see if this failure could have been predicted." | Martin Low, Westminster City Council's commissioner of transportation, said: "We have asked Thames Water for details of the age and condition of the pipework to see if this failure could have been predicted." |
In January last year, a section of nearby Oxford Street had to be closed when a burst main flooded several shops resulting in damage of an estimated £1m. | In January last year, a section of nearby Oxford Street had to be closed when a burst main flooded several shops resulting in damage of an estimated £1m. |