AROUND 15 homes were flooded when a water main burst under a Rossendale street last night.

Firefighters battled to pump water out of the homes in Haslingden Road, between Haslingden and Rawtenstall, after the pipe burst around 5.30pm.

The cellar of Spring Terrace Workingmens Club was also flooded after the 12-inch pipe burst.

Rose Murphy, who lives with Ross Middleton in Haslingden Road said: "I was on my way home and police said the road had collapsed so I was panicking.

"There was water in the cellar, a few feet high.

"The fire brigade pumped it out as quickly as they could but it damaged our washing machine, tumble dryer and lots of clothes.

"I've never seen anything like it, it was so powerful it ripped up the pavement.

"Fortunately the Water Board got here quite quickly and supplied us with bottled water. They have told us they will deal with everything so we hope it won't take too long to sort out."

Patrick Adams, 43, said: "I was out and my girlfriend called about 6pm to tell me what had happened.

"I rushed home straight away and saw the water was really high in the cellar.

"I was worried it would reach the electricity box on the wall. We only moved in four months ago and we had loads of stuff stored in the cellar like our bikes, tools, wine and all kinds of bits and pieces. Its all been damaged.

"The power of the water was really frightening to be able to rip up the road like that.

"The pressure must have been really high."

Part of the road, the A681, is expected to be closed for much of the day after a stretch of road subsided. The water supply to 30 houses was cut off until around 6am but water was available for residents from a United Utilities water supply van.

Staff from the water company worked through the night to repair the pipe and work will continue throughout the day. United Utilities has also sent out its insurance team to assess the damage caused to homes by the flood.

A spokesman said the cause of the burst was not yet known and further investigations would continue today.