NEIGHBOURS and firefighters battled to stop a burst water main flooding homes in Tilehurst this morning.

The alarm was raised at around 9.45am after a 24-inch tank mains pipe burst, filling Fairway Avenue with torrents of brown water. Firefighters from Dee Road used a pump to help residents armed with brooms divert the water towards a drain and stop it reaching the houses.

Thames Water turned off the pipe and were due to begin repairs this afternoon.