Burst pipe hits 300 Accrington homes, schools and businesses

5:12pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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A COLLEGE and primary school were closed as 300 homes, schools and businesses faced up to two days without water.

Accrington and Rossendale College, two schools and hundreds of homes and businesses near Sandy Lane, Accrington, discovered they had no water supply at 9am today.

The problem was caused when a water pipe was damaged during road works in Adelaide Street. Those affected were told to expect up to 48 hours without water.

The college sent 2,000 staff and students home and closed for the day, as St Anne's and St Joseph's Primary called parents to collect all 311 pupils. All but five were gone by 11.30am, including a class of 10-11 year olds, sitting their SATs next week.

Just a few yards away, Heathland School, with 180 pupils from three months to age 16, managed to remain open with bottled water. However unless water is available tomorrow, they too will have to close.

St Anne's and St Joseph's Headteacher Elaine Richards paid tribute to parents who helped others with childcare. she said: "Parents have been brilliant and responded very quickly. Some are looking after groups of children, others came to the school to meet and greet parents as they arrived. Our staff are really hardworking - some are still in school, some have taken work home, and others are visiting new pupils at nearby nurseries.

"We want our pupils to make the most of the sunshine before the SATs next week, it's important to take the time to relax before exams."

Accrington and Rossendale principal Stephen Carlisle said: "Classes have had to come to a complete standstill. Without water it's impossible to keep the college open."

Vice Principal at Heathland School, Jacquie Hide said: "Because our numbers are small we have been able to stay open. We had water in staff coolers and we brought more bottled water in. The toilets are still flushing with brown water, and we're using baby wipes for hygiene. If you're at home you have to manage without water and it's the same here. However we would have to close too unless the water is back on soon."

A spokesman for United Utilities said engineers were working to repair the eight-inch diameter pipe as soon as possible. He said: "The mains pipe has had to be shut-off while repairs take place so we can restore the water supply. We apologise to those affected and ask people to bear with us."