WATER spurted out all over a main road because of "safety checks".

Thames Water carried out the work in Widmore Road, Bromley, this morning at the site of a main which burst yesterday.

These checks involved pumping water out to remove air pockets and testing to see if it is safe to drink.

A Thames Water spokesman said: "For a short period of time we were carrying out some safety checks on the water main.

"It is important that we make sure that the water when we pump it through is safe to drink because there is a chance that when the pipe is ruptured something could get in.

"These checks are necessary so we deliver water that is safe to drink for our customers."