A TOTAL of 10,000 people and businesses were affected by wide-spread mains water bursts across Glasgow.

However, a spokesman for Scottish Water has admitted the company does not know how much water was lost in the floods.

He said 10 separate ruptures, stretching from the city centre to the East End, South Side and north Glasgow were all caused by a fault in the central system which regulates water pressure.

A surge damaged valves, rupturing pipes and sending water cascading on to the streets on Thursday morning. All but one of the bursts have been repaired.

Parts of the city were swamped and roads and walkways turned in to rivers by fast-moving water.

As reported in Wednesday's Evening Times, a 30ft fountain of water erupted through tarmac in Cowcaddens Road.

The underpass at Cowcaddens Subway station was also flooded with 6ft of water.

Another burst main, in nearby New City Road, forced the closure of Glasgow Kelvin College, previously Stow College. It will stay shut this weekend for remedial work.

The other eight bursts took place in: Keppochill Road, Possilpark; Tankerland Road, Cathcart; Bilsland Drive, Ruchill; Pollokshaws Road, Mount Stuart Drive and Gourock Street in the South Side; Allison Street in Govanhill; and Duke Street in Dennistoun.

Cowcaddens, the only burst main yet to be repaired, will be fixed tomorrow night.

The spokesman said 40 engineers dealt with the widespread flooding. He added: "We cannot say at this time how much water was lost.

"We estimate that about 10,000 people and businesses would have been affected.

"Engineers worked as quickly as they could to minimise inconvenience."

An unrelated burst main in Great Western Road was repaired yesterday morning.

linzi.watson@ eveningtimes.co.uk