Anglian Water has apologised after residents, businesses and schools in Littleport came to a standstill after they were forced to go without water for nearly two days when a water pipe burst outside the village.

Cambs Times: Water supplies were cut off in Littleport, customers had to be turned away at Ness & Em's, Globe Lane, (l-r) Sophie Turner, and Lisa Malkin,Water supplies were cut off in Littleport, customers had to be turned away at Ness & Em's, Globe Lane, (l-r) Sophie Turner, and Lisa Malkin, (Image: Archant)

The burst pipe, which has since been repaired, was discovered by Anglian Water after they were called to a fault in Stuntney, and engineers worked through the night to repair the damage.

The two-day water shortage wreaked havoc in the village, causing 5,000 customers to be without water.

Students from Littleport Community Primary School, Millfield Primary and Downham Feoffees Primary School in Little Downham, missed out on two days of education after they were forced to close their doors for all of yesterday (Wednesday) and today.

Businesses, like Ness & Emm’s hair salon on Globe Lane, had to turn customers away as they struggled to cope without water.

Cambs Times: Water supplies were cut off in Littleport, customers had to be turned away at Ness & Em's, Globe Lane, (l-r) Sophie Turner, and Lisa Malkin,Water supplies were cut off in Littleport, customers had to be turned away at Ness & Em's, Globe Lane, (l-r) Sophie Turner, and Lisa Malkin, (Image: Archant)

This week’s shortage is not the first time that Littleport has had to cope without water; hundreds of homes in the Littleport, Little Downham and Coveney were forced to go without water after a pipe burst last in September of last year.

An Anglian Water spokesman said on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire this morning: “We are very sorry to all customers who have been affected.”

“We discovered a burst on the pipe that feeds the tower at Littleport and that’s what we’ve been attending to overnight to fix.

The repair is now complete and water is going back into the system as normal.”

Cambs Times: Water supplies were cut off in Littleport, Littleport Community Primary School was shut for the day,Water supplies were cut off in Littleport, Littleport Community Primary School was shut for the day, (Image: Archant)

Anglian Water also explained that businesses who wish to be compensated for their lack of water must prove that they have lost profit.

A spokesman said: “We have written to customers who we think have been without water for the longest and explained that if they go without water for a certain period of time then compensation is due.

“We have spoken to businesses and explained that if they can prove that they have lost profit then they can claim for compensation with back up paperwork.”

Cambs Times: Water supplies were cut off in Littleport, water running down Upton Lane,Water supplies were cut off in Littleport, water running down Upton Lane, (Image: Archant)