A BURST water main flooded the premises of Salisbury jewellers Tribbeck & Son on Tuesday in the latest dilemma to hit traders on that side of the city.

Contractors relaying pavements in Bridge Street were digging through the kerb when they accidentally hit a water pipe outside the Town House pub around 11.15am.

"The first thing we were aware of was water pouring in through the door," said sales director Rachel Tribbeck.

"It came in as far as the workshop and right up to my ankles. I had to bail it out with a dustbin lid and bucket."

Miss Tribbeck (28) said: "All the cabinets are wet at the bottom and the carpets are soaking but it's the loss of trade more than anything.

"No one could get into the shop and if you can't have people in the door you can't do anything."

Neighbouring traders immediately alerted Wessex Water but work to stop the torrent of water gushing down the road continued for some hours.

Next door to Tribbecks, accountants Fletcher & Partners were also flooded, although only their reception area was affected. "We had an inflow of water very suddenly," said partner Pat Proctor.

"The traffic coming through the water just created a wave."