The London-bound carriageway of the A210 (Eltham Hill) has been shut for emergency works after a major pipe sprung a leak.

Transport bosses closed the road earlier this afternoon. Thames Water engineers are at the scene now digging up the carriageway to repair a burst 24 inch pipe.

A spokesman for Thames Water said: "We're treating the situation as an emergency. We do not anticipate any customers will be affected, but we will keep the mains on until around 8am tomorrow morning to ensure customers are not affected."

The spokesman said engineers plan to fix the leak by tomorrow and hope to re-open the road by Thursday.

General traffic is being diverted along the Well Hall Road to Westhorne Avenue towards the Yorkshire Grey Roundabout, Eltham.

Major delays are likely.

Eltham North Councillor Spencer Drury has hit out following news of the latest water leak.

He said: "I think it is shocking Thames Water are not going to turn the mains off until tomorrow morning.

"This means water is being allowed to leak from a major pipe for nearly 24 hours. This comes as residents are faced with water restrictions and the south east is in the grip of a drought.

"It reflects serious failings at Thames Water."