Businesses are still counting the cost of a massive pipe burst that left many Bradford shops and offices under water.

More than 70 staff were moved to temporary offices elsewhere after their desks and computers at Narang Mills in City Road were hit by a deluge of floodwater on Monday night.

The underground offices of Royce Morgan, a freestanding bath distribution company which is part of the Narang Distribution group, took the brunt of the water that poured downhill from the burst happened on White Abbey Road.

The full force of the water ripped up the mills’ car park and inside destroyed tons of paperwork – including invoices and order books.

Royce Morgan director Keith Sanderson said: “The water just tore up our car park as though it was a piece of paper and tore it into shreds. I don’t think the public will have realised the cost and turmoil this burst has inflicted on businesses.

“Our offices ended up eight feet under water. We had to scramble to get our computers moved up to safety on higher floors in the mill.

“We’ve taken on two extra people just to blow-dry computer equipment. Everything has had to be re-networked. It’s been a massive operation.”

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