THREE days and hundreds of gallons later - and still Yorkshire Water had not managed to stop this burst water main.

The leak - on Little Knavesmire - is one of 11 bursts which happened all over York on Tuesday after excess pressure built up in the network.

It was reported to Yorkshire Water on the day by City of York Council, who had been informed by patch owners in Hospital Fields Allotments.

The water supply to the allotment was cut after the main burst, and was not working yesterday morning.

The burst main produced a lake on Little Knavesmire, waterlogging the outfield of Ovington Cricket Club's grounds.

Dave Brummitt, 54, from Acomb, is a former captain of the club and was due to play this weekend.

He said the club's second team was due to play a fixture today, and the first team - which he plays in - were due to play Hemingbrough in the Vale League HPH Scothern Cup semi-final tomorrow.

"It looks like we're going to have to play the match as an away fixture on Sunday, " he said.

"I've spoken to Yorkshire Water and they've said they can't find the leak on their street map. The woman I spoke to said the pipe may belong to the council.

"I first came down on Thursday morning, and I was amazed - I thought it'd be a small leak, but this has developed into a lake.

"We're told to recycle this and that, but Yorkshire Water have let this run for three days."

He said the club would have been able to drain the pitch and play on it if the leak had been repaired earlier.

Hilary Moxon, from South Bank, has an allotment at Hospital Fields. She said: "It's appalling. Plants are going brown because we can't get any water."

The pipe burst following a power failure at Severus water tower, which resulted in a water pressure surge in the mains system.

Yorkshire Water said on Tuesday that it would endeavour to have all bursts repaired by the evening.

A company spokeswoman said today: "When 11 bursts occurred on Tuesday, the company's primary concerns were to repair those ones that were having the biggest impact on customers.

"Each burst was given a level of priority depending on the level of impact, which meant that those affecting direct water supply were mended first."

She added Yorkshire Water mended the leak yesterday and the firm apologised for the resulting inconvenience.