9:50pm Sunday 27th May 2007
By Daniel Lombard
A BURST water main sent thousands of gallons of water gushing into a quiet Cwmbran street, flooding homes and gardens and trapping families.
Residents in The Alders, Croesyceiliog, were woken at 4am on Saturday by what was described as a "loud bang, like a clap of thunder", to see a torrent of water cascading down a hill and into their back gardens.
There were incredible scenes as water up to three-feet deep flooded most of the street and families had to be rescued by firefighters using an inflatable raft.
The main burst just yards from the home of the Weaver family, trapping them in their house.
Nicola Weaver, 37, said: "It looked like Niagara Falls in our back garden.
"I was hysterical - I didn't know what was happening or how we were going to get out. I thought the house would collapse.
"It was a scene of utter devastation."
A water-rescue team from Maindee fire station waded through the flooded street and evacuated Simon and Nicola Weaver, their daughters Amy, 14, and Laura, 11, and Amy's friend Kayleigh Jones, 15, who was staying overnight.
Firemen lifted Lady, a 13-year-old lurcher, onto the raft at the same time. and continued to wreak havoc for two hours until the supply was turned off.
Neighbours watched in amazement as trees were uprooted from the bank, covering gardens in debris.
Jas Kukielka, 46, said: "It was a raging torrent and it was rising and rising."
Among the Weavers' belongings ruined were treasured mementos such as family photos and home movies, 13 carpets, and three cars.
"I think there's about £100,000 worth of damage," said Mr Weaver, 44, who runs his own kitchen-fitting business.
The high-pressure water main, measuring more than two feet in diameter, was built into the side of the A4042. It runs from the water treatment works in Talybont, near Brecon, to Llantarnam Service Reservoir, which supplies parts of Newport and Cwmbran.
Contractors from Welsh Water closed a lane of the A4042 in Llanyravon to begin repairs later that morning.
A spokeswoman apologised for the inconvenience caused to residents, adding: "We will be carrying out an investigation into what caused the main to burst."
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/trade_directory/