UPDATE: Two schools evacuated after double water mains burst in Burgess Hill

Pupils and staff at St Wilfrid’s School, in School Close, were forced to leave the building after a mains burst in London Road at around 7.30am.

On Twitter the school asked parents to come and collect their children at around 1.30pm due to the water supply being cut off to the school.

Engineers from South East Water, which deals with mains burst in the area, were sent to fix the problem.

A spokesman said the mains had now been repaired and water was restored to the school.

On it’s webiste the school has confirmed it will be re-open tomorrow.

A few hours later Southway Junior School, in Southway, was evacuated after another mains burst outside the school.

Engineers were called just before 3pm and are still fixing the problem.

A statement on the school’s website said it had closed early due to the road being ‘unsafe’ and water supply being cut off to the building.

All clubs and meetings have been cancelled and it has asked parents to check the website for more details about opening tomorrow morning (Tuesday March 22).

A passer-by said the burst main in Southway had caused a ‘mini earthquake’ and said the water had risen to the height of the road.

A spokesman for South East Water said both issues had affected properties in the RH15 and M6 area.

It has not been confirmed how many properties were affected.

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