On the Edgwater Road

Thousands of commuters face traffic disruption for days after workmen cut through a water main on one of London's busiest routes.

Thousands of gallons of water flooded the Edgware Road and poured into shops and an underground car park when Transport for London contractors hit the water main.

The route between Harrow Road and Sussex Gardens will remain shut for days while it is resurfaced.

Tailbacks today stretched from Maida Vale to Hyde Park, with rush-hour traffic moving even more slowly than usual.

A spokesman for the RAC said: "It is usually congested on Monday morning, but this has made it much worse. The areas around the closed road are congested as well because drivers are trying to find alternative routes." The problems were caused when workers trying to adjust traffic lights near Edgware Road Tube station drilled through the water main causing "considerable damage".