Vandals cause water ‘geyser’ to erupt over Hampstead

A water “geyser” burst over Hampstead today (Tuesday, July 10) when vandals tampered with a fire hydrant.

Water sprayed above the rooftops of three-storey houses in Gayton Crescent between 2.30pm and 4pm, just a month after Thames Water lifted a hosepipe ban in the area.

Engineers from the water company are investigating and condemned the incident as a “mindless act which unnecessarily wastes huge volumes of water”.

Eyewitnesses reported builders in the area were trying to tap into the water source and made a quick getaway from the scene after the water shot up above nearby houses.

Only fire crews have legal permission to use fire hydrants.