PUPILS in Highworth have running water again.

As reported in late editions of yesterday's Advertiser, a burst water pipe forced two of the town's schools to close yesterday.

But a team from Thames Water managed to re-route the supply and water was flowing again by noon.

The burst water pipe at the Blackworth Industrial Estate caused the problems.

The pipe, which is close to Pentylands Lane, burst at about 6am yesterday.

This cut the water supply to about 200 homes in the town and also caused major disruption to two out of the four primary schools.

Those hit were Northview Primary School at Haresfield and Westrop Primary School at Rivers Road.

As staff began to arrive a Northview they soon discovered the school had no water.

Realising the school would have to shut they tried to alert parents through local radio but many still arrived with their children only to be sent back home.

Over at Westrop there was a similar scene as pupils arriving for the school day were turned around and sent home.

Headteacher Janet Urban stood at the school gates and sent children home with their parents because the school couldn't stay open with no water.

Robin Markwell, Thames Water spokesman, said: "We would like to apologise to anyone who experienced disruption.

"It took a while to re-route the water supply but it was back on by midday."