A burst water main has forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes in north London.
About 350 people from 150 properties had to flee after a 30-inch pipe burst in Northwold Road, Stoke Newington, on Sunday, leaving nearby streets under 3ft (1 metre) of water.
Thames Water said it had begun a full investigation into the incident, which followed similar instances of mains bursting in Blackheath in south-east London, on Saturday, and in Islington, north London, last Monday.
Bob Collington, director of Thames Water, said it had been an “extremely difficult week”.
He added: “I am personally devastated for those customers who have suffered flooding so close to Christmas. We are doing everything we can to help them and will make sure they are not left out of pocket for what has happened.
“The bursts are a clear reminder that we need to keep investing in our ageing and sometimes fragile network, with many pipes in London well over 100 years old.”
London fire brigade station manager Nicol McCallum, who was at the scene, 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.”
Six fire engines and two fire and rescue units from stations including Stoke Newington, Homerton, Tottenham and Bethnal Green. The brigade said several basements were left under water by the flooding.
Hackney council said Stoke Newington town hall had been made available for emergency accommodation for anyone forced out of their homes.
Some residents expressed their anger about the situation on Twitter.
Another burst main in #stokenewington another major flood. WTF is happening with your mains @thameswater
— Vicki (@afcvicki) December 11, 2016
Thanks to @thameswater I have nowhere to work now. My place of work is flooded and I don't know how I'm going to pay my rent in January.
— ziebo (@ziebo) December 11, 2016
Thames Water said it was sending as many loss adjustors as possible to help customers.
The burst main should not affect water supplies in the area, the firm added.
The average UK household paid £396 for water and sewerage in 2014-15, according to the regulator Ofwat. This represents a 40% increase in real terms since privatisation, though most of this rise took place in the first five-year period between 1990 and 1995. The regulator has been criticised by MPs on the public accounts committee for allowing bills to rise too much.
In September Ofwat said consumers would be able to choose their water supplier for the first time under proposals that it claimed would cut bills and improve services by introducing competition. However, the proposed overhaul would only save households about £8 a year on their water bill, the industry watchdog said.
