DRIVERS face miles of diversions for at least three days while a short stretch of a busy village high street remains closed following a burst water main.

Repairs to the pipe were expected to be complete late last night, but excavations revealed large holes – possibly caused by the leakage from the main – beneath the road surface.

Although only around 100 yards of High Road, Trimley St Martin, is affected, motorists wanting to reach the St Martins Green estate and roads beyond will have to travel around seven miles until the road reopens.

The drama unfolded at 6.18am yesterday when the main burst, leaving High Road between the roundabout at Howlett Way and the St Martins Green junction with water about five inches deep across the carriageway and pavements.

While drivers faced difficulties, pedestrians could still get through by taking footpaths through the nearby estate.

Anglian Water said a handful of customers lost their water supplies, but no homes were damaged though one garden was flooded.

Officers had visited the homeowner and also the Sausage Shop – which was not flooded but may have suffered loss of business because of the road closure – to give advice on making compensation claims.

Anglian Water spokesman Antony Innes said customers’ water supplies were restored by about 11am.

“We anticipate that the road will be closed for three days while full repairs are carried out to ensure it is safe and there is no danger to road users,” he said.

“We apologise for the impact on both our customers in the local area and road users and we will be working to get the situation sorted as quickly as possible, but the most important thing is that the work is done properly and the road made safe for everyone to use.”