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General election: Voters wade through flooded streets to get to polling station after water main bursts

One man says he will vote later because he did not have wellies on him 

Dominica Sanda
Thursday 12 December 2019 11:43 EST
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General election: Voters wade through flooded streets to get to polling station after water main burst

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Voters faced flooded streets in order to cast their ballot at a London polling station following a burst water main.

Access to Cherry Garden Hall polling station in Bermondsey in the capital's southeast was temporarily disrupted on Thursday morning after a nearby water pipe was damaged and flooded the surrounding area.

Hannah Tookey, who waded through the water to cast her vote, tweeted: "It was too deep to wade through the middle, even in wellies."

Another early-morning voter, Graham Kings, said he would have to vote later as the road outside the polling station was flooded.

"I could have gone home and put wellington boots on and waded across the flooded road to try to get in, but had to go to work and so will vote this evening," he said.

A Southwark Council spokeswoman said a polling station inspector had helped voters to get in and cast their votes.

"No one was prevented from voting at any point," she said. .

"Access to the voting station was not compromised at all."

Restricted access to the polling station at Cherry Garden Hall in Bermondsey, London
Restricted access to the polling station at Cherry Garden Hall in Bermondsey, London (AP Photo/Tony Hicks)

A Thames Water spokesman said the pipe was damaged by a third party carrying out roadworks in the area.

The water supply is being re-routed to the properties in the area while Thames Water repairs the pipe, the spokesman added.

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