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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Bristol burst main leaves thousands without water | Bristol burst main leaves thousands without water |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of people have been left without water and are queuing at bowsers for supplies after a main burst near Bristol. | Thousands of people have been left without water and are queuing at bowsers for supplies after a main burst near Bristol. |
| The 30in (76cm) wide main ruptured in Kingswood on Thursday afternoon, affecting 8,000 homes and forcing 18 schools to close on Friday. | The 30in (76cm) wide main ruptured in Kingswood on Thursday afternoon, affecting 8,000 homes and forcing 18 schools to close on Friday. |
| Bristol Water said its tankers were being sent to fill up the bowsers again, as many were now empty. | Bristol Water said its tankers were being sent to fill up the bowsers again, as many were now empty. |
| The firm added water was likely to be restored by around Saturday lunchtime. | The firm added water was likely to be restored by around Saturday lunchtime. |
| Bottled water has also been handed out and people have been asked to contact the water company for deliveries if they are in desperate need. | Bottled water has also been handed out and people have been asked to contact the water company for deliveries if they are in desperate need. |
| BBC reporter Pete Simson said some had been waiting for water at bowsers for more than an hour in Kingswood, and supplies in local shops had run dry. | BBC reporter Pete Simson said some had been waiting for water at bowsers for more than an hour in Kingswood, and supplies in local shops had run dry. |
| Resident Sharon Kitchen said: "The fact that everybody has a place to come to get water is amazing and I'm glad I'm not in Africa and have to go miles and miles by foot to pick up some water. | |
| "It makes you appreciate what you do have." | |
| 'Boats rescuing people' | 'Boats rescuing people' |
| On Thursday, 19 people were rescued by dinghy. They spent the night in a church hall but have now returned home. | On Thursday, 19 people were rescued by dinghy. They spent the night in a church hall but have now returned home. |
| James Hodges, another resident, said: "It was a shock to find a great big hole in the road when I came home last night. | |
| "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 under way. | Most of the people who were evacuated have returned home and a clean-up operation is under way. |
| BBC reporter Andrew Plant, at the scene | BBC reporter Andrew Plant, at the scene |
| The hole in the road is huge. Workmen are standing in it and are only visible from the chest up, and it stretches 10m 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. | 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 of water bottles and handing them to a steady flow of residents, who stagger off under the weight. | 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 of water bottles 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. | 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. |
| Bristol Water said Wales and West Utilities had made a damaged gas main, alongside the burst water main, safe and repair work had now started. | Bristol Water said Wales and West Utilities had made a damaged gas main, alongside the burst water main, safe and repair work had now started. |
| 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. |
| A total of 18 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. | A total of 18 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. |