Clapham Road flooding: Street still shut as water recedes
A major south-west London road remains closed after it was flooded when a water pipe burst.
Clapham Road, in Kennington, was closed on Thursday night between Oval and Stockwell Tube stations, after 10cm-deep water flooded it.
Thames Water denied claims there was sewage in the water, saying the force of the burst moved soil under the road, causing it to look muddy.
It apologised to customers for the disruption caused.
A Thames Water spokeswoman said: "It's one of the biggest water mains that we have under London's streets. It's difficult to say how long it will take to repair.
"There is severe damage to the road."
BBC reporter Emma North, who was at the scene on Friday afternoon, said: "Water is still lapping over the pavement."
On Thursday night, resident Angela Reynolds, 58, said: "It's not clear how they are going to stop it. The water is revolting, brown, muddy - well I hope it's mud.
"There are lots of basements around here. One of the houses has already been badly flooded. The water just flooded the road in 10 minutes. It was quite incredible."
Several fire engines, police cars and an ambulance attended the scene, while a London Underground Emergency Response Unit was also deployed.
The Press Association reported a policeman at the scene, telling onlookers: "It's sewage. It's stinky. It's gone into people's basements."
Thames Water said it was working with Transport for London to get the road reopened.