Southend burst main leaves hundreds without water

Essex and Suffolk Water said "all water supplies should be back on"

Essex County Council Shoeburyness burst water main — Essex and Suffolk Water said "all water supplies should be back on"

Hundreds of homes were left without water and 17 schools were closed after a water main burst.

Essex and Suffolk Water said crews had been called to a "large main" at the Bournes Green roundabout in Shoeburyness, Essex, at 07:25 GMT.

The company tweeted just before 09:50 to say supplies "should be back on".

It said water pressure might be lower than usual but would "build throughout the morning" and apologised for the inconvenience.

Five postcode areas in and around Southend-on-Sea were affected - SS0, SS1, SS2, SS3 and SS9.

Seventeen schools, including three high schools, were closed.

Eileen Webster said she called the fire brigade at about 08:30 as water was all around her bungalow in Thorpe Hall Avenue and she could not get out.

Essex and Suffolk Water said it was repairing the pipe and a temporary lane closure had been put in on the road, which was expected to last for four days.

Firefighters help clear water from outside Eileen Webster's home in Thorpe Hall Avenue

Shoeburyness burst water main — Firefighters help clear water from outside Eileen Webster's home in Thorpe Hall Avenue