A BURST water main caused traffic chaos, flooded businesses and forced parents to carry children to school in Oakworth village centre.

The huge fountain of water outside properties in Lidget this morning caused a metre-deep crater in the road surface, closing off access from Keighley Road.

Water rushed down Station Road with such force it woke residents.

Mum-of-two Vicky Feather said: "We heard a great gushing of water. It was like a waterfall coming down past our house."

Hairdresser Gemma Gallagher, whose second child is due in four weeks, said: "About three years ago I had the salon at the top of Lidget when a main burst and that got badly flooded.

"Then I moved down the road to open Cutting Edge which was badly flooded this morning."

Hair and beauty expert Bernadette Atha, of Unique Salon, said: "It's disgusting because all of us are trying to earn a living and something needs doing with the water supply in Oakworth."

Sean Whitaker, whose home was flooded, said: "I must say Yorkshire Water are being very good and have told us to just get a hotel until Monday."

A Yorkshire Water spokesman said it was hoped the Keighley Road into Oakworth would be re-opened tomorrow.

"We would like to apologise to anyone who has been affected by the burst on one of our 12" pipes on Keighley Road.

"The burst caused an interruption to water supply in the area but this was restored by 11am," the spokesman said

"Three properties, a business and two homes, have also been damaged by the burst. We are working closely with the owners of these properties and have offered to put the homeowners in a hotel until the damage has been repaired."