Sandbags and rushing water brought bad memories flooding back for residents of Lewes.

Homes and businesses in St Pancras Road were declared under threat when a water main burst in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Firefighters were called after gushing water lifted the road surface and started to run downhill towards St Pancras Stores and homes in The Course.

Worried onlookers feared nearby roads and buildings would be undermined.

More than 100 sandbags were delivered to the scene as emergency workers from Lewes District Council helped residents to protect their homes.

It proved a grim reminder in a town still recovering from the October 2000 flooding disaster, which damaged or destroyed more than 400 homes and 200 businesses.

Janak Patel, owner of St Pancras Stores, was called to his shop at 3am.

He said: "They wanted me to be here just in case something happened but I don't think it would have flooded.

"Someone put sandbags outside as a precaution.

"There was no damage like there was in 2000. But it brought back some bad memories."

A spokeswoman for Southern Water said: "We think the burst 10in pumping main was the result of ground movement with the warm weather drying the soil out.

"The pumping main is put under a lot more pressure than a general main. It is just one of those things that happens now and again.

"There was no disruption to customers and our repairs were completed the same day and the whole area cleaned in cooperation with the district council."

Lindsay Frost, director of the council's planning and environmental services, said: "Environmental health and building control officers responded extremely quickly to assess the situation and to help residents.

"I understand from Southern Water there was no disruption to domestic water supplies during the installation of a new section of water main and repairs are now complete.

"The road will remain closed while repairs to reinstate the road surface are carried out."