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Dramatic images show the scale of a major flood sparked by a burst water main which wreaked havoc along a busy north London high street.

The 30-inch water main burst in Stoke Newington at about midday on Sunday sending gallons of water cascading into homes and businesses.

More than 350 people were forced to flee their homes and scores of emergency services vehicles descended on the area.

Aerial images of the scene showed Stoke Newington High Street and Northwold Road covered by huge swathes of water.

Fire crews were photographed dressed in specialist dry suits and helmets moving through the flood to speak to residents who were trapped in their homes.

One woman was pictured leaning out of a first floor window as she spoke to a firefighter on the street below.

Street furniture including traffic lights and bus stops signs were covered by up to a foot of water.

Neighbours from the Gibson Gardens apartment block nearby were photographed building a barrier from plastic fencing to try to stop the flood.

Other images showed the London Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Response team on standby with a rescue boat.

It was the third time a ruptured water main caused flooding in London in just a week.

London Fire Brigade said about 150 properties were affected.

By mid-afternoon on Sunday, Thames Water said it had stopped the flow of water and was working with the London Fire Brigade to minimise the impact of the flood.

Pearse Corcoran, 26, who lives in Gibson Gardens said: "The water burst out in a huge gush and just started flooding everywhere.

"After about half past 11, people became more and more alarmed as the water got deeper and deeper

"I live in a second floor flat but I know a lot of people on the ground floor have been affected.

"It feels like the whole estate has been submerged."

Hackney Council said it had set up a rest centre at Stoke Newington Town Hall as a precaution but that Thames Water were putting up some residents in hotels.

It comes after a huge flood caused millions of pounds worth of damage when a huge water main split open just a few miles away in Islington last week.

More than 100 people had to flee their homes after thousands of gallons of water cascaded into houses and business premises in the Upper Street area.

Separately, another burst water main caused major problems in Blackheath on Saturday.

Homes and businesses were left under water and roads in the area were shut after the 12-inch pipe ruptured in Lee Road.

Thames Water said Saturday's flood in Blackheath was caused by a contractor.

The cause of the burst water main in Stoke Newington was not immediately known.

Thames Water director Bob Collington said the company was investigating the problems, adding: "It has been an extremely difficult week, and I do understand just how devastating it must be for those customers who have suffered flooding so close to Christmas.