It was like a Tsunami!

A BURST water mains devastated businesses and brought traffic chaos to a high street when sludge spurted from collapsed pipes.

The mains exploded in the early hours of the morning in Kilburn High Road, when the water pressure of the water lifted the concrete, pavements and traffic lights leaving tubes, pipes and mains exposed.

Businesses claim they have been ruined near the junctions with Cambridge Avenue and up to 400ft either sided of the rail bridge.

Corrina Mccain, owner of Macs Hair and beauty spa, in Kilburn High Road, said her business was one of the worst affected.

She said: "This has destroyed my business. Six thousand litres of water came in here and the doors were taken off the hinges. It's no exaggeration to say if someone had been in here they would have been killed. It was like a Tsumani has come through.

"I'm devastated. I think I can rebuild the business but it's going to take time. This is the third time in about six months, but this was one of the biggest. You have these things happen and there seems to be no-one to talk to about it."

Witnesses said the mud slid down Cambridge Avenue and into basement flats in Cambridge Gardens.

Leslie Clyne, 60, of Priory Park Road, said: "We heard this shaking and the road stared to crumble and this gush spurted up from the ground. This is the fourth time it's happened.

"Questions needs to be asked why is this happening all the time. The last time it took a whole month to fix. And I don't think the job has been done properly. Shopkeepers were saying 'not again.' There was so much panic."

From the day of the flood on October 7, Kilburn High Road, was closed for five days for emergency repairs to a burst water mains with diversions east and west.

A Thames water spokeswoman said: "A 20in water main on Kilburn High Road, burst and as a result, the road was closed between Belsize Avenue and Oxford Road while the repair is being made."

Work was expected to finish today (Wednesday).

Andrew.mccorkell@archant.co.uk