Nearly 300 homes were left without water today – with residents relying on bowsers in four Rowley Regis streets – after a mains burst may have been due to ground movement.

South Staffordshire Water’s Rachel Barber said that it was “doubtful” that the 3.45am burst in Oldbury Road, was due to the earthquake which hit wide areas of the country early today. Emergency water supplies in bowsers, each holding about 100 gallons of water, were brought in. At 11am today there were still 286 homes which were without water.

Miss Barber said: “It was one of the trunk mains which means it’s quite a large supply.” She said more people may have been affected earlier.

Bowsers were at Regis Heath Road, the junction of Oldbury Road and Blackheath Road, Boundary Avenue and the junction of Oldbury Road and Boundary Avenue. for people to go to with containers to fill up.

Not many workers were needed for repair work but quite a few were needed to distribute the bowsers, said Miss Barber.

“The reason for the burst main could be ground movement but it could be caused by traffic. I think it is doubtful it has been caused by the earthquake.”

Rowley Regis Councillor Bill Thomas, also leader of Sandwell Council said: “Luckily I was not affected. However, I hope South Staffordshire Water manage to restore supplies as soon as possible so people are not inconvenienced.”

Kevin Monk, aged 44, of Oldbury Road said: “We got up to make the morning coffee and found there was no water at all.

“My neighbour still had a trickle, so they gave us some water so that we could brush our teeth and the wife and I went to the gym so we could have a shower.

“We don’t have any idea when it will be back on at all. There seems to be a pretty big hole where they are working on it so it might be some time yet.”

Tom Taylor, 57, also of Oldbury Road said: “Our neighbour had been having problems with his water supply and at first I thought ‘oh no – ours has been switched off by mistake’.

“I rang the council and they explained what had happened. It is crazy around here at the moment. We can’t flush the toilets or anything and no-one can tell us when the problem will be sorted out.”