A ROAD riddled with pot-holes caused major problems after heavy rain caused them to overflow and flood into an adjacent school's boilerhouse.

Four inches of water swamped Spring Hill School on Exchange Street, Accrington, and teachers told the Citizen: It was bound to happen sooner or later.

Fife Street, an unadopted road surrounding the school, has been in a state of disrepair for several years, and every time it rains the deep holes in the road fill up and water floods into the school.

Accrington firefighters took three hours to pump the water from the boiler house in the latest incident. They had to act quickly to stop the school's electrical supply from shorting.

Deputy headteacher, Stephanie Grimshaw, said: "Thanks to the quick work of the caretaker and firefighters we managed to get rid of the water and keep the school open.

"The road's been a problem for a long time.

"We've complained to the county council but they say it's our responsibility. We just don't have the funds to resurface the road."

The problem is made worse by parents who use the road to collect their children - and by lorries which drive along it to a nearby factory.

The school is now planning to build steps alongside the road to contain any future flooding.

A Hyndburn Council spokesman said: "Fife Street is a private road and its maintenance is the responsibility of the properties alongside it. However, we would become involved if the flood was caused by land drainage problems."

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