ENGINEERS are still working to repair the damage caused when a major water main supplying thousands of Hampshire homes burst, sending six million litres of water down the drain.

Tens of thousands of homes across Southampton and Eastleigh were without water or suffered reduced pressure for nearly four hours on Saturday.

Wide Lane in Swaythling, Southampton, turned into a huge 4ft deep lake underneath the M27 after the main ruptured at about 10am.

The road is set to remain closed - with diversions in place - for the rest of the week as engineers work to repair the massive hole created in the Tarmac by the deluge.

Southern Water spokesman Neil Duncanson said: "The weather may have had something to do with the burst.

"When you have rain and then you have periods of dry weather the ground can sometimes shift and it does impact on the mains water network.

"The crews did a really, really good job getting the water back on.

"We've got crews out looking at a repair to the road but it's a major hole and therefore it's going to take a week or so to repair."

He said about 30 people reported white tap-water yesterday but stressed that it was nothing to worry about.

He added: "Air got into the supply which is quite common when you have a main burst, but there's no problem and it will clear within a day or so.

"It doesn't make any difference to water quality."