Traffic is being diverted along Tindall Street and pedestrians, including residents, are being refused permission to walk up the road for their own safety.

Mike Cook, Scarborough Council's senior highway inspector, said the council had been alerted to the problem at around 3.30pm yesterday.

He told the Evening News: "There has been a burst water main, which is quite extensive. We believe there are voids under the carriageway. It is possible the road could collapse.

"The road will be closed until work is completed. We don't know the extent of the damage underneath as yet so the closure could last as long as two days."

A shopkeeper said he found the extent of the flood worrying. Steve Golder, of Northern Domestics, said: "The water's up to our kerb now and there are gallons of it rushing down a drain 10ft away from our front door.

"If the drain can't cope we'll be flooded so it is a concern – we've not been asked to evacuate as yet. This has never happened before."

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said workers were on site just after 4pm and they acted quickly to isolate the burst main.

The water supply was turned back on just after 5pm but a few people in the area may have been left without water for several hours.

Victoria Road is closed from the junction with Tindall Street to Barwick Street.

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