FAMILIES watched in horror as more than 20 Little Hulton homes were flooded by hundreds of thousands of gallons of water yesterday afternoon.

The flood, which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage, was caused by a burst on a 40 inch pipe attached to the main Thirlmere Aqueduct near to Clarke Crescent.

Minutes after the burst, water poured down a hill into Rothwell Crescent and out into homes in Manchester Road West. It is estimated that around 23 houses were hit.

The road between the Water Gate Toll roundabout, Over Hulton, to just past the Kirkby Central Garage in Manchester Road West, was closed off by police as fire crews from Eccles and Farnworth fought to pump off the water.

Fire chiefs estimate that at the height of the flood they were pumping off 1,000 gallons of water a minute, diverting it across the A6 onto open land. According to North West Water between 300,000 and 400,000 gallons of water was lost.

Because of the force of the flood and the speed at which the water built up many residents were forced to open their front doors and stand back and watch as their furniture sank beneath the torrent of water, which entered the houses from the back gardens. In some houses the force of the water carried belongings into the street. Some lucky residents escaped the flood altogether.

In Rothwell Crescent the water was three feet deep in places. Florence Mather, of Manchester Road West, was due to move into a new house next week. Downstairs was submerged beneath an inch of water. She said: "I'm not even insured. I've put blankets against the back door to try to stop the water but it's been useless. It happened so quickly there was nothing I could do except look on as my home was ruined."

Neighbour Christine Ogden burst into tears as she took stock of the damage. The water in her house was about a foot deep.

"It's very upsetting. We've just had it all decorated and it's completely ruined."

Ironically, Mrs Ogden was helping her friend Barbara O' Connor fight the flood of water at her house in Clarke Crescent, near to the burst viaduct.

Theresa Barrett, from Rothwell Crescent, managed, with the help of neighbours, to move all her furniture and carpets upstairs, out of harm's way, before the water flooded into her home.

She tried to stem the tide with sand bags from nearby Wharton Primary School.

At the time the burst occurred in witnesses say six grids on Manchester Road West burst into the air. The water eventually began to subside two hours later.

A spokesman for North West Water said that last night householders were offered hotel accommodation, but the majority opted to stay in their own homes. Because of the water damage there had been a problem with electrical appliances and NWW had told the householders to go out for a meal and bill the company.

She said: "Naturally we are very sorry when people's homes are damaged to this degree and we will do everything we can to remedy the situation and get people back to normal. Obviously they will receive the necessary compensation for the damage caused."

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