A mystery water leak in Borehamwood's high street and an open hole dug to investigate it pose a danger to the public, it is claimed.

Bus passengers are calling for the leak and the 2ft deep water-filled hole at a bus stop in Shenley Road, to be fixed before someone is injured.

Three Valleys Water has not been able to find the source of the leak, despite night-time searches over the past three weeks, using sophisticated detection equipment.

Ivy Smith, 72, of Cranes Way, said: "It is a disgrace. I saw a woman trying to get on the bus the other day.

"The poor soul had two walking sticks and she had trouble getting onto the bus. Someone is going to have a bad accident one of these days."

Bill Smith, 76, said "gallons and gallons" of water had been wasted, and he was concerned that the hole, dug by Three Valleys Water and surrounded by barriers, contained a gas pipe.

A Three Valleys spokeswoman said the water had followed the path of a disused gas main, and the source of the leak could be up to a mile away.

She added: "We have traced and repaired six leaks, but this has not cured the water arising in Shenley Road."

It was hoped a leak repaired in Furzehill Road, on Friday, may solve the problem.

A Transco spokesman said the hole was safe from a gas point of view.

July 3, 2002 14:30