A ROAD collapsed and caused a water main to burst near Darwen town centre today.

Water began gushing down Lloyd Street, along back alleys and into busy Blackburn Road at around 12.30pm.

Residents said a lorry was parked outside a factory building in Lloyd Steet when the road gave way beneath it.

A loud bubbling and gurgling noise could be heard coming from under the road, and police issued sandbags to residents and business owners to prevent flooding problems.

But the measures could not stop damage being caused to Alexander’s Deli in Blackburn Road, as the back yard flooded, and water crept into the kitchen, around the fridges.

Owner Alexander Sunter, 59, said: “I saw the road burst and all the water going everywhere. We were all worried the road was about to explode.

“I got flooded at the front about nine years ago when a storm caused the river under the shop to burst.

“I’m carrying on trying to see the funny side of it.”

Police blocked off the road while firefighters opened up grates and directed water towards them, using wheelie bins, crates, boards and barricades.

They were helped by Harry Rothwell, manager of Angler’s Den in Blackburn Road, who said: “It’s the first dry day we’ve had in ages, and look what happens.”

Lloyd Street resident Frankie Hargreaves, 22, said: “I’m worried it’s going to come under the house and ruin my things.”

A spokesman for United Utilities, said: “The leak is on a six-inch fire main feeding a local mill and has not affected the supply to any other properties, and is unlikely to have affected the mill either.

“We apologise for any inconvenience while engineers are on site, fixing the problem as soon as possible.”