Firefighters rescue people by dinghy on Saturday afternoon [Simon Lamrock]

CHRISTMAS has been ruined for dozens of people after a burst main caused devastating flood damage.

The New Journal understands Thames Water was alerted to the leaks more than eight hours before the pipe ruptured in Belsize Road, South Hampstead, around 3am on Saturday.

A 500-metre river of water surged down the residential street towards Kilburn with such force that cars were lifted off parking spaces.

Firefighters were praised for rushing to help residents – some in their 80s and one pregnant – who were stranded in icy basements in a nightmarish repeat of the chaos caused by flash floods last summer.

Electricity, water and heating was down for four days across a large area of NW6 with residents having to call off festive and birthday celebrations and missing out on watching what has been hailed as the greatest ever World Cup Final.

Shruti, who was rescued with her family and dog in a dingy on Saturday, said: “I found myself sitting in -5 degrees, wading through water trying to save my stuff. The dog was shivering and super anxious.

“But more than anything else I’ve lost my mental sanity having gone through this twice now. I am going to be really stressed living here all the time. I feel like I have PTSD from the last time. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and I’m going to drown, it’s going to burst and I’m going to die.”

Peter Farrell’s flooded home

Recalling the moment the flood hit, Shruti – she did not want us to print her surname – said: “I heard this dripping and I opened the blind thinking it can’t be happening again, and I saw the water on the outside was almost all the way up to the top window.”

Some residents had fitted flood defence sluices on gates after the damage caused by the historic rainfall in 2021. But as there was no warning of heavy rain or incoming storms few had put them up.

The family was one of several to tell the New Journal how Thames Water had been contacted about a leak from the ground near Tesco, further up Belsize Road toward Swiss Cottage, around 6pm on Friday.

Power was down because outdoor power boxes were at basement level and many residents said these should be moved higher up away from flood level. Fairfax Road, Hillgrove Road, Belsize Road, Fairhazel Gardens and Loudoun Road remained closed to traffic with major works going on at the roundabout near South Hampstead rail station.

Residents were moved into the Marriott Hotel in King Henry’s Road on Saturday after the council set up a rescue centre for them in the Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre.

Joan Munro, chair of the South Hampstead Flood Action group, said: “Thames Water really needs to do something about the Victorian sewage system round here because with the impact of climate change this could happen again and again. And the government needs to ensure everyone can get flood insurance.”

The government’s Flood Re-insurance scheme only covers flats in buildings where there are three flats or less — excluding many of the buildings along Belsize Road and across Camden.

Peter Farrell, whose basement was flooded chest deep, said: “This is going to take a long time to sort out. So far things seem promising and we are told that everything is going to be fine, but it will be interesting to see if what they say happens does happen.”

Mr Farrell had been expecting to watch the Argentina versus France World Cup match but said he “only got to see the last three minutes of the extra time and the penalties”. Both the government and the Labour Party support a system of privatisation which abdicates responsibility for the water service to Thames Water.

Sir Keir Starmer removed a pledge to take it under public control earlier this year. Thames Water has faced claims for prioritising profits over public service has posted nearly £400million in profits for the six months to September and its chief executive takes home an £2million salary.

Flooded Belsize Road

“Too much money to shareholders,” said Pete Pitman, who lived near to the flood site. “And why can’t they invest money in their own country instead of putting it in hedge-funds abroad?”

UK Power Networks said on Monday it was working to restore power to homes but said Thames Water was “liable” for replacing water logged power boxes that had caused the most blackouts.

On Saturday, London Fire Brigade station commander Gary Deacon said: “Crews are using flood barriers and a high volume pumping unit to divert flood water.”

Camden Council leader Councillor Georgia Gould said: “It’s been heartbreaking to see the damage caused by the burst water main just before Christmas. I was on site on Saturday with ward councillors speaking to residents and I want to make clear that Camden are here to help in any way we can.”

She added: “We are clear that this devastating incident cannot be allowed to pass without serious questions being asked of Thames Water. There are some serious questions to be answered about whether there is sufficient investment in the ageing network of pipes under our city.

“We are urging Thames Water to listen to local residents and to do more to protect residents who are at risk of flooding in the future.”

She added that more waste collections would be taking place and the council was focused on repairing Belsize Road so it can reopen. Camden said residents should contact Thames Water first but council officers would also be on scene to help.

Thames Water said in a statement that they shut the water off at 2pm on Saturday, adding: “It’s taken time to achieve this safely, as they needed to switch off a number of valves at different locations, some of which were under parked cars or submerged by flood water.

“They also needed to make sure when operating them that this didn’t lead to a further burst pipe elsewhere. “We have loss adjusters and support staff at Swiss Cottage Library, where Camden Council is running a rest centre.

“We’re really sorry for the flooding and distress this has caused, as well as the impact on local water supplies.

“Once we’ve been able to turn off the water, we’ll focus on refilling the network – we don’t yet know how long this will take but will update you as soon as we can. In the meantime, customers who are without water should still be able to use their heating.”