Junction remains closed in Banbury after dramatic burst water pipe causes flooding

The water pipe at the junction of West Bar Street and the Banbury Cross roundabout is believed to have burst around 8pm on Tuesday (May 26).

Pictures and videos shared online of the incident show water spraying out dramatically from beneath the ground across the road.

The flow of water from the leak was stopped by Thames Water at around 10pm on Tuesday; however, the area remains closed to traffic whilst the pipe is repaired.

According to a passerby who spoke with workmen, the repairs to the leaking pipe should be completed before the end of the day.

A spokesperson for Thames Water said: “We apologise for the disruption caused by a burst water main in Banbury last night.

“We stopped the flow of water from the burst pipe just after 10pm. Six customers are temporarily without water while we continue to carry out our repair work and a customer representative is in the area today to speak to anyone who has been affected.

“West Bar Street at the junction with the Banbury Cross roundabout will remain closed while our engineers work to repair the pipe as quickly as possible and we’re sorry for any disruption this may cause.”

One resident who lives close to where the pipe burst commented that there was still debris in the area when they left for work this morning.

They said: “I left for work a couple of hours ago. At that time, the main road through Banbury Cross (South Bar and Horsefair) was open, but the turn into West Bar was closed.

“The leak seems largely to have been stemmed, but there is some evidence of water. There is some debris around in the area as well.”

The incident is the third of its kind to take place in Banbury's town centre in less than a year.

On September 10, 2025, several schools were forced to send pupils home, and a town centre pub had to close because of significant flooding caused by a burst water pipe on North Bar Street.

Just days later, on September 18, more pupils were sent home, and residents were evicted from their flooded properties due to a burst water pipe on West Bar Street.

While some residents found light in the situation on social media, joking that they “loved Banbury’s new water feature” or that it was a “free shower” or a “free car wash” on a day that saw temperatures of over 31C in Banbury, others have demanded answers from Thames Water.

Cllr Fiaz Ahmed, who represents Banbury Cross and Neithrop on Cherwell District Council, released a video calling for Thames Water to provide answers following the series of incidents.

He said: “This is the second time we have had a catastrophic water main failure in the centre of Banbury. What are Thames Water doing about this?”

To report a burst water main or flooding to Thames Water, visit: https://www.thameswater.co.uk/contact-us/report-a-problem

For information on what to do and how to stay safe during flooding, visit the goverment’s flooding advice page at: https://www.gov.uk/help-during-flood