WITH VIDEO: A burst water main has formed an "impromptu water feature" at the bottom of Preston Street this morning. 

At its height, the plume of water was three stories high, attracting crowds of people taking photographs. 

The incident involving a JCB happened in Preston Street, Brighton, at about 9.20am today.   People passing described it as like the “Niagara falls”.

A spokeswoman for Southern Water said: “It was an unexpected burst and we’re on site with a view to sorting out repairs as soon as possible.

“It only happened an hour ago. We have not turned the water off yet as we want to minimise the disruption.

“We do not want to interrupt supplies until we actually know what repairs we need to carry out. We will know that in the next 30 minutes or so.”

Argus photographer Simon Dack took this picture of the water spouting out of the ground.

Workmen told him that they had severed the main because it was two or three feet higher in the ground than they expected. 

He said they could not turn off the water to stop the leak because the restaurants and other businesses in the street depended on it, and were waiting for the water board to turn up.

Digital developer Joe Holdcroft took this picture this morning and posted it on Twitter, saying it was an "impromptu water feature"