A JET of water more than 15ft tall was seen gushing into the air after a water pipe was damaged in Bournemouth town centre.

At around 1pm workmen on Old Christchurch Road were forced to temporarily down tools after the pipe burst.

Site manager Jason Baldock said: “It looks a lot worse than it is.

“It’s just an old water connection that broke under pressure. The supply only affects one shop.”

Speaking to the Daily Echo at 1.30pm, Mr Baldock said the waterboard had been notified and engineers were on their way.

A spokesperson from Sembcorp Bournemouth Water said the leak was fixed by 4.45pm.