A RUPTURED water main which left a giant crater and forced the closure of one of Glasgow's busiest streets will cause at least seven more days of disruption.

Thousands of properties were left without water, while commuters and businesses faced chaos when the pipe underneath Bridge Street cracked at around 8pm on Tuesday and opened a five metre-wide hole.

Several homes were evacuated when water engulfed the area, causing flood damage to the Sou' Wester pub in Bridge Street, as well as some firms under the archways in Commerce Street, which are owned by Network Rail.

A section of the road, including Glasgow Bridge and nearby Kingston Street, was closed off to traffic - and it is now understood that both streets as well as the bridge will not be reopened until next Thursday.

The move has raised fears of severe delays for motorists travelling in and out of the city, including on November 5 when Glasgow Green will host a Bonfire Night celebration.

Residents are also asking if the situation could have been avoided after an almost identical mains rupture happened seven years ago in the same section of Bridge Street.

Properties in the South Side were affected when they lost their water supply, or suffered low pressure and discoloured water.

To allow the burst main to be repaired the hole had to be opened wider, resulting in a 16ft crater.

The main was fixed at around 5.30am yesterday, and Scottish Water is currently assessing consequential damage to their network and sewer system.

Govan councillor Stephen Dornan said he would be demanding answers from water bosses.

He said: "I will be having discussions with Scottish Water because of this and I'm going to be asking them for their future timetable to see what they are planning for the area.

"I know they are doing a lot of work in the city centre at the moment upgrading their network, so I will be asking what their plans are for this ward.

"I think constituents can be confident that everything is being done."

Glasgow First councillor Mr Dornan warned drivers to prepare for delays - but said there was no other option.

He said: "Obviously there will be disruption and there will be delays. It would be silly to say there won't be.

"We do have Bonfire Night coming up where a lot of people will be travelling in and out of the city.

"But I think the delays be minimal and the diversions will ease congestion.

"These things happen but they don't happen often."

Bridge Street resident Derek Draper said he felt angry over the burst pipe because it had happened nearby before.

Thousands of homes were left without water in May 2006 after a burst main left a crater at the corner of Oxford Street and Bridge Street, forcing major travel disruption.

Mr Draper, 56, who has been living in his flat for 10 years, said: "This happened years ago, just a few metres from where it's happened now.

"Why didn't they examine the pipes across the whole area to make sure none of the others had rotted?

"There's going to be a lot of damage to cars and businesses and you have to ask: why hasn't something been done to avoid it?

"Someone needs to be held accountable."

Firms are counting the cost of the flood damage.

Danny MacDonald, owner of Mac Carpets, estimated there was around £1000 of damage to his carpet firm in Commerce Street.

He said: "I've been lucky. The water has obviously hit the lowest part of the archway.

"A few carpets have been ruined and my office, but I honestly thought it would be much worse."

A spokesman from Glasgow City Council said full reconstruction of the road meant it was expected to remain closed until November 7.

Glasgow Bridge is closed southbound to all traffic, while Kingston Street is shut from Bridge Street to Commerce Street and Clyde Place is closed from Commerce Street to Bridge Street.

Road users are being advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

There are diversion routes in place via Clyde Street, Bridgegate, Saltmarket, Albert Bridge, Crown Street, and Ballater Street for southbound and eastbound traffic, and Broomielaw via The Clyde Arc for westbound traffic.

A spokesman for Scottish Water said the company had no more information to add at this stage but that repairs and an investigation into the burst are ongoing.

UP TO 50 vehicles in an underground car park may have to be written off after the burst water main left cars submerged.

Cars belonging to residents on Oxford Street were wrecked when the water pipe burst under Bridge Street and flooded local homes and businesses.

The underground car park, which caters for locals living in flats on the South Side street, was deluged with water that submerged up to 50 cars.

Resident Iain Bartholomew, 32, said his Ford Focus was one of the motors affected by the flood.

He said: "I haven't actually been to look at my car yet.

"When I left for work there was red hazard tape across the entrance to the car park and now I almost can't face going to see it.

"Scottish Water's compensation team called me and they advised that even if the car looks okay it will probably need to be written off as the electrics will be wet.

"It's a nightmare."

The car park has spaces for around 50 cars as it caters for eight blocks of flats in and around Carlton Court.