SCORES of families got an unwelcome early morning wake up call yesterday.

Homes narrowly escaped damage after a burst water main produced a deluge which, at its height, was 3ft deep and covered more than 2,000sq m of land.

Firefighters pumped away water in Leyburn Close, Urpeth, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, at about 12.30am, but had to call for back-up from a second appliance.

At one point, residents, some still dressed in pyjamas, made their own makeshift sandbags.

But after more than two hours watching firefighters pumping away the water, residents were relieved to find their homes were dry, apart from a couple of garages.

Northumbrian Water last night said the rogue pipe had been repaired.