IT was like a tropical spring gushing out of the ground, 40ft into the air.

When workmen struck a water main, a spectacular fountain of water brought traffic in Southampton to a standstill It didn’t take long for a few sun soaked revellers to take the chance of an impromptu shower to cool off from the summer heat.

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Sonny Clay, 44, a scrap metal dealer from Northam, said: “It’s beautiful in this weather, absolutely gorgeous, people have been driving through with their windows down to cool off and getting a free car wash at the same time.

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