A WATER burst is causing havoc for a Bury town centre shop.

Shoppers, pedestrians and staff are having to avoid a large area in Market Parade where water is "gushing" out of the pavement.

Water has been spilling over onto the street outside Chatleys Menswear for more than four hours.

Staff at the shop, which sells men's clothing in large and plus sizes, discovered the leak when they arrived at 9.30am today.

United Utilities said they were carrying out repairs to a leak and apologised for any inconvenience caused.

Chatleys Director Harvey Langer described the burst as being "like a lake."

He said: "Water is gushing out of the pavement. Water is gushing down the kerb. The paving slabs outside have caved in.

"Now we have a current and we will have a tide soon. It is like a lake.

"People are trying to avoid it. It is dangerous. It is not safe."

Director Marc Wilks reported the leak to United Utilities when he arrived for work this morning.

Cones and barriers have been installed at the site to warn pedestrians to avoid the hazard.

Mr Wilks said: "United Utilities said they were treating it as a priority one. They were going to send officers down.

"It is horrendous. It needs sorting.

"It is a hazard to pedestrians as well as people coming into the shop."

Chatleys has shut the doors at the main entrance and staff are instead encouraging customers to use the side door to access the shop.

A spokeswoman for United Utilities said: "A small number of customers in the Market Parade area of Bury may be temporarily experiencing no water or poor water pressure while we carry out repairs to a leak.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."