Shoppers panic-buy bottles of water after main problem

Shoppers were reported to be panic-buying bottled water after a damaged main halted supplies to thousands of homes in Birmingham and turned supplies a mucky yellow.

Customers were said to have been stockpiling bottles in the Asda store in Small Heath after the main burst in Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak , on Thursday evening – sending thousands of gallons of water spewing into surrounding streets.

The store confirmed it was very busy overnight.

Some homes were completely cut off for a time and water pressure was reduced to hundreds of other properties.

Raddlebarn Road was closed for several hours.

Tap water turned dirty and cloudy as Severn Trent Water flushed out the network of pipes.

Severn Trent said a third party contractor was the cause of the problem.