A BURST pipe in a field near Didcot caused a rush of water to flow towards a hamlet of homes near West Hagbourne yesterday.

Park Road in Didcot was closed both ways in the afternoon due to flooding at Brook Lane and Main Road, in the hamlet of Coscote.

Thames Water worked to stem the flow of water and spokeswoman Sarah Andrews said no houses had been flooded.

She added: “We’re sorry for the disruption caused.”

The road closure remained in place throughout the evening.

Jennie Kuca, who lives in Main Road in West Hagbourne, said: “We noticed our water running really slow from the tap. We thought it was just us but our neighbour rang because she had it too.

“But we’re right on the main road and the traffic is still moving.”

Graham Turner, station manager at Didcot Fire Station, was at the scene at 1.30pm with ten other firefighters from Didcot and Abingdon.

He said: “A 12-inch water main had burst and the water ran down the field into the hamlet. A few houses were in danger of being flooded so we pumped the water into a nearby brook. The water was about knee- to thigh-high.”