Work to clear mud and silt from a stretch of road in Loudwater after more than 10 homes were flooded is expected to finish this evening.

Thames Water say the clean-up operation in Kingsmead Road is progressing well and is expected to be finished soon, after which the road will be reopened.

Read more about the flooding here.

Teams have been using suction tankers and road sweepers since early this morning to clear the debris which was washed down from the nearby woodland area when a 12-inch diameter water pipe burst late last night.

Thames Water Manager Nigel Membury said: “We appreciate this pipe has caused lots of disruption for people in the area today and we’re really sorry for what happened.

“We’re doing all we can to support those residents affected by the flooding and our massive clean-up operation will carry on into this evening so we can get the road reopened.”

Thames Water’s loss adjusters have spent the day visiting the owners of the five homes which were flooded internally and a further eight whose gardens were affected, to help residents, assess the damage and begin any insurance claim processes.

Letters explaining about the burst pipe, the clean-up and how residents can contact Thames Water have been delivered to around 150 homes in the area this afternoon, they say.

Plans to fix the broken water pipe are still being worked on as it’s located in a wooded area which is difficult to access with large machinery and surrounded by trees.

No water supplies have been affected and it is expected services will remain normal throughout the repair job.