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| Kingswood burst water main forces school closures | Kingswood burst water main forces school closures |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Several schools near Bristol have been forced to close and 8,000 homes remain without water after a main burst. | Several schools near Bristol have been forced to close and 8,000 homes remain without water after a main burst. |
| Bristol Water said supplies are likely to be cut off for the rest of Friday after the 30-inch wide (76 cm) burst in Kingswood on Thursday afternoon. | |
| Twenty people were evacuated from their homes by boat. The Red Cross found a church hall for them to stay overnight. | Twenty people were evacuated from their homes by boat. The Red Cross found a church hall for them to stay overnight. |
| Water bowsers are being provided at several locations until repairs can be carried out, the company said. | Water bowsers are being provided at several locations until repairs can be carried out, the company said. |
| Resident, James Hodges said: "It was a shock to find a great big hole in the road when I came home last night. | Resident, James Hodges said: "It was a shock to find a great big hole in the road when I came home last night. |
| 'Boats rescuing people' | 'Boats rescuing people' |
| "Luckily the water only came up to my wall, it saved my house from getting flooded but I know my neighbour's whole garden has been totally destroyed." | "Luckily the water only came up to my wall, it saved my house from getting flooded but I know my neighbour's whole garden has been totally destroyed." |
| Most of the people who were evacuated have returned home and a clean-up operation is underway. | Most of the people who were evacuated have returned home and a clean-up operation is underway. |
| BBC reporter Andrew Plant, at the scene: | |
| "The hole in the road is huge. Workmen are standing in it and only visible from the chest up, and it stretches ten metres from end to end. | |
| In it you can make out several pipes, and see a puddle of water at the bottom that gets disturbed every time the bucket of the mechanical digger scrapes in and pulls out more earth. | |
| The residents are watching from behind temporary metal fences; a lorry full of water is manned by two men in yellow jackets, pulling off six-packs and handing them to a steady flow of residents, who stagger off under the weight. | |
| It all looks like a natural disaster and many have missed work or school today, unable to shower this morning." | |
| Red Cross volunteer Adam McGreevy helped people with the rescue operation on Thursday evening. | Red Cross volunteer Adam McGreevy helped people with the rescue operation on Thursday evening. |
| He said: "To see boats rescuing people from their houses on the streets of Bristol is something you don't expect to see every day." | He said: "To see boats rescuing people from their houses on the streets of Bristol is something you don't expect to see every day." |
| Avon Fire and Rescue said 19 people and six dogs were rescued by an inflatable dinghy. | Avon Fire and Rescue said 19 people and six dogs were rescued by an inflatable dinghy. |
| Schools closed | Schools closed |
| There are also fears a gas main has been affected. This needs to be isolated before more repairs can continue, the water company said. | There are also fears a gas main has been affected. This needs to be isolated before more repairs can continue, the water company said. |
| A statement on the Bristol Water website stated: "Wales and West Utilities are carrying out some necessary work on their gas main. | A statement on the Bristol Water website stated: "Wales and West Utilities are carrying out some necessary work on their gas main. |
| "Their main is close to our damaged main and it would not be safe for our crew to work on the repair until this work is completed." | "Their main is close to our damaged main and it would not be safe for our crew to work on the repair until this work is completed." |
| It added that it did not know how long these repairs would take. | It added that it did not know how long these repairs would take. |
| Areas that have been affected include Kingswood, Pucklechurch, Mangotsfield, Oldland Common, Longwell Green, Barrs Court, Keynsham, Stockwood and Whitchurch. | Areas that have been affected include Kingswood, Pucklechurch, Mangotsfield, Oldland Common, Longwell Green, Barrs Court, Keynsham, Stockwood and Whitchurch. |
| Schools have been closed across the area, including: Kingswood Forest Primary; Kings Oak Academy; Sir Bernard Lovell School; Grange School, Warmley; Beacon Rise Primary; Chester Park Infants School and Chester Park Junior School in Fishponds. | Schools have been closed across the area, including: Kingswood Forest Primary; Kings Oak Academy; Sir Bernard Lovell School; Grange School, Warmley; Beacon Rise Primary; Chester Park Infants School and Chester Park Junior School in Fishponds. |