UP TO 300 people in Weymouth were left without water after a major water main in Littlemoor Road burst.

Wessex Water cut the water supply to around 100 homes after the 12in main burst early this morning.

There was traffic chaos for commuters as police closed the road while staff worked to fix the problem.

It is believed the water main, which is located next to the railway bridge by Upwey station, burst at around 3am this morning Wessex Water area supply manager Nigel Martin said there were ongoing efforts to tackle the burst main.

"We're in the process of organising people, plant and materials so that we can control the water andget the site dry," he said.

"We then need to excavate it and assess exactly what's required to repair it."

Mr Martin said the water supply in the area was cut straight away, leaving about 100 homes without running water.

He said: "We're seeking operational diversions so we can get people back in water while we're undertaking repairs.

"We're actively looking at options to get anybody who's been affected back in water as soon as possible - that's a priority for us."

Mr Martin said he did not know how long the repairs would take - but warned the main's proximity to the bridge could complicate matters.

"It's quite a large pipe and we've got a large volume of water to deal with," he added.

"There's just so much water in there that until we isolate it we won't know how big a problem we're facing.

"Obviously our aim, along with the police, is to manage the traffic as best we can while we work to minimise disruption."

Littlemoor Road was closed to traffic from both directions between the junction with Dorchester Road and Broadwey Close.

Dorset Police said the closure - expected to be in effect for most of today - would be a 'huge inconvenience' for motorists.

A spokesman for Network Rail said the railway has not been affected, and trains are running on time and as normal through nearby Upwey station.