RESIDENTS are calling for action to be taken before their homes are flooded.

People living in West Road, Hedge End are concerned that what they believe to be a water main may burst and flood the road.

They told the Daily Echo that water can be seen leaking from a crack in the road every morning and are now urging water services to fix the main “before it’s a disaster.”

Retired resident Colin Martin, 64, said: “The concern we have is that it’s likely to go any minute. In the morning it seems to be a pressure build up.

“The water pushed it up and cracked the road.

“I am assuming it is a water main because we had another burst water main on the road and there’s no proper drainage for ground water on this road.

“It’s going to burst one day very soon and it’s getting bigger.

“It will go everywhere and flood the houses down there.”

Mr Martin said that staff from Southern Water visited the road at the end of last month and told him that it was ground water and it was not their responsibility.

However, a Southern Water spokesperson said: “We are not aware of any reported leaks in West Road but if customers have raised their concerns to us, we will always look to investigate further.

“The South East is an area of ‘serious water stress’, so our leak detection team are dedicated to finding water leaks across our region, using sophisticated monitoring and acoustic systems.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “We are aware of the cracking in West Road and will be carrying out investigations at the earliest opportunity. From an initial site visit it does look like a water leak. The water company have been informed, and we will continue to monitor the issue.”

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, a burst water main caused disruptions in Totton and Ashurst last week.

Hundreds of residents were left without water for hours, Hounsdown School in Totton had to close for a day and a pub in Ashurst was flooded.

When the Daily Echo asked Southern Water if the recent heatwave could have had an impact on the water mains, a spokesperson said: “Burst pipes can happen any time of year, including the summer. Pipes can burst from age, extreme temperatures, damage, increased water pressure and misuse. We have thousands of miles of water mains and water leaks can occur at any point. If customers are aware of a leak, we ask them to call our 24-hour leakline on 0800 820 999.”