NEIGHBOURS have felt stranded for days after repairs on a leaking water pipe closed off the only way in or out of their street.

Thames Water began urgent work on a single-lane section of Witts Lane in Purton on Monday to fix an underground main.

Access should have been maintained for residents and businesses - but instead, the route has been completely blocked off.

Anyone hoping to leave the village on Swindon’s outskirts must use Hoggs Lane, a narrow, winding dirt track through farmland which is not meant for through traffic and has no passing points.

Alison Taylor fears that emergency vehicles would not be able to get to them if the situation arose, carers will struggle to visit their elderly or vulnerable clients, and pre-booked food deliveries will be impossible.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: A water leak on Witts Lane in Purton has closed part of the narrow streetA water leak on Witts Lane in Purton has closed part of the narrow street (Image: Dave Cox)

She said: “It’s been a nightmare. No-one can get through, it's causing havoc, and we had no notice about the closure until it was actually happening.

“Some people have left their cars before the section of Witts Lane that’s closed and then walked the rest of the way home, which is causing parking problems for those living on the other lanes.”

The closure lasts from outside the property known as Shell Cottage for approximately 40 meters southeast.

Coun Jacqui Lay is Wiltshire Council’s Purton representative. She said: “I’ve had a number of people contact me about this and it’s not the first time this has happened.

“I’ve recommended they send formal complaints to Thames Water and the ombudsman.

“It’s indicative of a wider problem with the mains in Purton, which need replacing. When work is carried out, they should be looking at how to maintain access for people."

The work was expected to take three days; the closure notice has a maximum duration of five days.

A Thames Water spokesman said: “We apologise for the inconvenience to local residents due to emergency work to repair a burst main in Purton.  Our engineers have been on-site and we completed the repair on Wednesday morning.

“Unfortunately it was more complex due to requiring a fence removal, however the site should be cleared by Thursday morning and the road reopened.

"We have been in contact with Swindon Borough Council throughout and we have kept them informed of the progress on the repair.

“Our team is currently on site and if we can open the road any sooner we will. We would like to thank residents for their patience.”