WATER shot 70 feet into the air and caused traffic gridlock after a mains burst in Walkden on Wednesday.

The pipe failed shortly after 11am and flooded Bolton Road within minutes.

The road was closed between Algernon Road and Cecil Street.

United Utilities engineers stopped the leak at 12.30pm, before repairing the main.

Water blocked access to shops, leaving local traders counting the cost.

A spokesman for Hampsons, in Bolton Road, said: "It really killed the lunchtime rush.

"Normally wed be really busy but people cant get into the shop."

"We saw the water firing out everywhere but it seemed like quite a while before anyone came to try and fix it."

Shahid Ali, who works at Bolton Road News, said: "People couldnt get across the road to our side. We usually have customers queuing out of the door but they were just coming in ones or twos. It was all really inconvenient.

"The people that did come in were complaining that they were getting soaked by all the water. It was shooting into the air and flowing down the road."

A spokesman for United Utilities said: "We would like to extend our apologies to the residents for the inconvenience caused.

"We would also like to assure people that water supplies remain unaffected."

Police later reopened one lane of the road. Part of the other lane collapsed and will take several days to repair. Temporary traffic lights have been installed.