A burst water tank at a Rochdale factory caused disruption on the area’s tram network this afternoon.
Police were called to a commercial property, thought to be a factory, on Station Road at 4pm.
It was then established that a water tank had burst at the site — with photos from the scene showing the metal wall of a factory had been bent and punctured.
No injuries have been reported, GMP confirmed.
“At around 4pm today, police were called to reports of a burst water tank at a commercial property on Station Road, Milnrow,” a police spokesperson said at 5pm on Sunday (January 2).
“Emergency services are currently in attendance and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.
“No injuries have been reported and police are asking people to avoid the area.
“There will be travel disruption on the tram lines.”
Tram bosses also had to suspend services in the area, although warnings of disruption disappeared by 5:30pm.
No Metrolink services operated between Rochdale Town Centre and Shaw & Crompton for a period this afternoon.
Residents also reported being evacuated from their homes on social media, with one passer-by saying it was ‘terrifying’.
“I was on the street when it happened,” one woman said on a local Facebook group. “[It] frightened the life out of me, ripped the shutters off [the factory] and loads of water came flooding out.”
Others reported seeing fire engines, and ambulances, as well as police officers in attendance.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has been contacted for comment.
