Huge hole in middle of Burslem as two roads to stay closed

This is the scene in Burslem where engineers have been forced to dig a huge hole after a burst water pipe flooded the town centre. It's believed the original cobbles and tramlines have been revealed during the massive excavation on Wedgwood Street.

It comes after a water pipe burst on Thursday morning sending icy cold water gushing to the busy junction with Moorland Road. Today and engineers from Severn Trent remain at the scene as the scale of the operation has been laid bare by photographs from the scene.

Images show how a massive hole has been dug as the repair job is set to continue over the weekend. Paving was also lifted up when the pipe burst sent up water from at least two different places on the road.

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StokeonTrentLive reported how a passer-by had felt a 'rumbling' as water burst through the carriageway leaving engineers with little choice but to close the road. That incident on Thursday came after temperatures had stayed low in the Potteries all week with the city seeing successive nights of snow.

Meanwhile on Tuesday - after a night of heavy snow - and a pipe burst half-a-mile away on Moorland Road. Severn Trent has confirmed that both roads will be shut over the weekend.

All eyes will then be on Monday night when Port Vale are expected to attract a bumper crowd at Vale Park when the Valiants take on Crewe Alexandra.

Severn Trent had previously said the Moorland Road incident required 'complex repairs'. Given the scale of the efforts on Wedgwood Street, which has seen it shut between Jenkins Street and the Moorland Road junction, it would appear that is just as complex.

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