A BURST water main caused rush-hour chaos in Middlesbrough on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

A number of lanes on one of the main roads into Middlesbrough was awash with water for a number of hours, until workmen were able to repair a damaged pipe.

The junction of Newport Road and Hartington Road was severely hampered by the flooding, which is believed to have been caused by builders working on the new Aldi store, on the site of the former North Riding Infirmary.

A spokeswoman from Northumbrian Water said the pipe was definitely not one that it maintained.

There was no one available from Aldi yesterday when the Northern Echo contacted the firm.