More than 2,200 homes and businesses in Wolverhampton were without water today, while shops and a school were forced to shut, after an underground pipe burst.

All 323 children were sent home from Hill Avenue Primary in Lanesfield after the water main burst, and part of the pavement collapsed in Dovedale Road.

Some shops were left under water, wrecking produce. Martin Southall, who runs Ettingshall Park post office in the street, said: “I was paddling around in water half way up to my knees when I arrived for work at 5.50am.

“The papers and bread deliveries worth around £100 which are left outside for collection were ruined.”

Beauty salon Krisu in Dovedale Road had to cancel appointments today, meaning its self-employed beauticians lost a day’s pay.

Clare Rudd, aged 20, said: “We had no water, so we could not wash our hands. We were told it would all be back on by midday but we could not take the risk.”

Parents taking pupils to Hill Avenue Primary School were asked to take them home again when they arrived for lessons today.

Headteacher Suzanne Webster-Smith said: “Staff discovered that there were no toilet facilities and the pressure was too low in the kitchen for cooking when we arrived.

“We have a strict policy that every pupil has to be brought and collected unless special permission is given to the contrary.

“This currently affects only four children.

“Their parents were called, and those pupils had been collected and taken home by 9.20am.”

Severn Trent spokesman Roger Clark said the burst hit supplies to 2,249 properties in Lanesfield and Woodcross. He said: “We do apologise for any inconvenience.”

The water supply was back on by 1.30pm today.