Flooding on key Marlow to Bourne End road causes 'little bit of chaos' for drivers

Traffic was pictured driving through major flooding on a key road near the A404 roundabout in Little Marlow this morning, amid reports that a water mains pipe had burst nearby.

Video and images on social media showed cars and lorries cautiously negotiating a long-stretch of flood water, which had sprung up along Winchbottom Lane and Marlow Road.

A separate video appeared to show water gushing out of a hole in a field near to Winchbottom Lane.

Thames Water said its engineers were on site with repairs 'due to start shortly', and a road closure was now in place between Westhorpe Farm Road and Winchbottom Lane

The company added: "At this stage, we do not expect any properties to experience an interruption to their water supply.” 

Father and son Matt and Steve Keating confronted the tide of water when they drove back from a waste disposal job in Marlow around 11 am.

Steve Keating, 63, said the water was 'causing a little bit of chaos' along Marlow Road. 

Mr Keating said: “When you got to the garden centre [Hilliers] on the left-hand side, the [traffic] came to a standstill.

“You could see the vehicles, SUVs, 4x4s and vans coming through and it was right up to the number plate.

“And it continued all the way up to where you turn left on Winchbottom Lane.

“The only safest way I could get through was to drive half on the path and half on the road.”

He added: “It was a bit deeper than curb height - god knows how many gallons of fresh water have been lost.”

Matt Keating, 33, said: “At the time there was no signage, no prior warnings, no divert traffic, no Thames Water, literally nothing.

“I think that's a bit of a massive problem.”

Kathryn Acres, a Little Marlow parish councillor, said she had seen video of the ‘major’ flood.

“It's a reflection of the sort of tired infrastructure, isn't it?” she said.

“It's all tied up. It's the same sort of stuff as the gas works - the gas pipes needing to be replaced the whole time.”

A Thames Water spokesperson said: “Thames Water engineers are on site in Little Marlow following a burst clean water main. 

 “Repair work will begin shortly. Due to flooding caused by the burst main, a road closure is currently in place between Westhorpe Farm Road and Winchbottom Lane. 

 “At this stage, we do not expect any properties to experience an interruption to their water supply.”