Flooding shuts Clapham Road, in south-west London
- Published
Resident Jonathan Critchlow took this footage from his balcony
A major south-west London road has been shut because of flooding from a suspected burst water pipe.
Clapham Road, in the Lambeth borough, was closed to pedestrians and motorists at about 20:10 GMT after water 10cm deep flooded the road between the Oval and Stockwell Tube stations.
Some residents reported on social media sewage had contaminated the flooding.
Police said it was due to a burst water pipe but could not confirm if the water contained sewage.
Water 10cm deep flooded the road between the Oval and Stockwell Tube stations
An initial statement from the Metropolitan Police said the flooding was "from a suspected burst water pipe between Oval and Stockwell Underground station".
But a policeman at the scene warned people the water was "contaminated" and a "hazard to health".
A Thames Water spokesman said: "A burst water main has caused flooding to Clapham Road."
Dozens of people stood on the edge of the brown water to take photographs.
Local resident Angela Reynolds, 58, said: "It's not clear how they are going to stop it. The water is revolting, brown, muddy - well I hope it's mud.
London Fire Brigade said it had sent firefighters to the scene
"There are lots of basements around here. One of the houses has already been badly flooded. The water just flooded the road in 10 minutes. It was quite incredible."
BBC reporter Tarah Welsh, who was at the scene, said: "The road looks like a river. It is completely covered and so is the pavement.
"The fire brigade is giving out sandbags to concerned residents.
"People have been asked to stay in their homes but some cannot get to their homes."
'It's stinky'
Several fire engines, police cars and an ambulance attended the scene, while a London Underground Emergency Response Unit were also deployed.
The fire service said it had asked UK Power Networks and Thames Water to attend
The Press Association reported a policeman at the scene telling onlookers "It's sewage. It's stinky. It's gone into people's basements."
Earlier resident Lewis Whyld, who posted footage online, wrote on Twitter: "People now getting trapped by sewage in south London, firefighters evacuating properties."
In another post, he added: "Expect lower ground floor flats to be full of sewage in south London tonight, it's getting deeper too."