HOUSEHOLDERS were left terrified when a burst main sent a torrent of water gushing through their homes. The main, on Laithes Lane, ruptured on Thursday evening, causing water to gush down hill towards Rufford Drive and Lindhurst Road, Athersley. More than ten homes were affected. Residents were unaware what was happening until water went through their living rooms and levels rose up to two feet. Linda Law, her daughter Amy and sister Pat were watching TV in the living room. Linda, 45, of Rufford Avenue said: “I heard a trickle of water coming from the radiator and thought it had burst. I opened the front door to let the water out and the garden was full. “It all happened that fast. I did not know where all this water was coming from. The fire brigade arrived and when they saw it they began to realise how serious it was. They were asking for carrier bags and filling them with soil to stop the water going into other houses.” Lisa Adams and her eight- year-old son Ryan had to stay somewhere else overnight as the carpets and floors in her council house were ruined. She said: “I thought it was the tap in the kitchen that we had left on and all of a sudden water was coming through the air vents. It was quite frightening.” Yorkshire Water cut off the and the fire brigade spent two hours pumping out homes. Residents spent Friday morning clearing up and counting the cost of the damage to floors, carpets and furniture.