By Penny Stretton Muswell Hill was awash with water on Thursday after a water main burst near Alexandra Palace. Water gushed down Alexandra Park Road, Redston Road, Danvers Road and Priory Road and as many as 35 homes in the area experienced flooding. The

By Penny Stretton

Muswell Hill was awash with water on Thursday after a water main burst near Alexandra Palace.

Water gushed down Alexandra Park Road, Redston Road, Danvers Road and Priory Road and as many as 35 homes in the area experienced flooding.

The Thames water main erupted early on Thursday morning and the fire brigade was on site almost immediately. Eight fire engines and forty firefighters were dispatched to deal with the flood.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: "Around 34 houses and 50 storage units flooded to depths of 300mm. We used pumping equipment to pump water from houses and we were on the scene until 18.48 helping with the salvage of property."

But after recent scenes of weather related flooding and devastation across Britain, residents feared the worst.

Brian Bowles from Redston Road said: "It felt like the Cotswolds here. It really did start to get a bit scary and it was all hands to the pump.

"We were all concerned, especially about the elderly residents and we all just tried to do whatever we could to help."

Authorities struggled to contain the rapid flowing water.

Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone attended the flooded streets, she said: "I was with the police and fire brigade talking to residents in the first few hours and I have to say I was impressed with the speed of their response.

"The resilience shown by local people has been incredible. Everybody has rallied round to help their friends and neighbours. We are a strong community and that was proven today.

"I will now be pressing Thames Water to find out how this happened and asking the company to ensure it won't happen again."

Roads in the area were closed off, including Alexandra Palace Way and Priory Road, and police patrolled the area giving residents advice and leaflets on how to keep safe.

Those on the affected streets got to work creating damns and digging trenches and conjured up the kind of spirit of togetherness that comes out of a crisis.

Councillor Gail Engert was also present at the scene of the flooding.

"Through the quick actions of residents and the emergency services this crisis has been tackled with great speed and coordination," she said.

"I hope that all involved will be able to return to normality as soon as possible and that this will not happen again."

There were no reports of any residents losing their water supply as a result of the flooding.

Thames Water said: "Following a burst water main at Alexandra Park Thames water engineers were on site to undertake urgent repair works.

We understand that approximately 35 properties in the area have experienced some flooding. "Once our engineers shut in the main we will undertake an extensive clean up of the area.

"Thames Water apologises to all customers affected."

broadway@hamhigh.co.uk