A FIRE crew saved residents in Cricklade from floods last night, after a burst pipe causing havoc in the area.

Five firefighters from Cricklade Fire Station, situated a stone’s throw from where the pipe burst, quickly arrived on the scene to prevent water spilling into houses.

They were called around 9pm and hurriedly worked to block off doorways from the water spilling out onto Bath Road using sandbags and a pump.

Robert Bloor, who lives in the house next to the burst pipe, commended the fire crew for their speedy work

“If they hadn’t have come as quickly as they did, this row would have been flooded,” he said.

“They are a real asset to the community.”

Emma Blake, who lives a couple of doors down from Robert on the same part of the road that flooded, arrived home to find the fire crew already pumping water outside her house.

“I arrived back around 9pm and the road was soaking all the way up,” she said.

“The fire brigade were pumping it out and putting up a few sandbags.

“I did panic a little bit when I saw it that it might have come in, but the fire brigade were really on it. They’re so good.”

Cricklade Fire Station watch manager, Neil Vigor, said he thought the pipe bursting may have been caused by its age.

He continued: “The water was starting to flood the properties so we diverted the water.

“We filled some sandbags up and used the pump and some other equipment to divert the water and remove it around the property.”

The fire crew then waited for Thames Water who reportedly arrived at 1am to fix the burst pipe.

The work continued through the night until around 4am.

A spokesperson for Thames Water said: “We’re sorry for the disruption caused by our burst water pipe last night.

“It’s been repaired and we’ll be supporting those residents whose properties were affected with any claims.”