A BURST water main has caused a headache for residents because nobody is fixing the problem.

Bubbling water first appeared from a "tiny crack" last Tuesday (May 25) at the junction of Wickham Road and Bridle Road in Shirley.

But by last Friday night the crack had spread to about a metre wide and was gushing so much water firefighters from Addington Fire Station had to create a diversion for motorists.

Despite Shirley resident David Witcher reporting the hole last Tuesday to Thames Water, which looks after the main, he says nothing has been done.

"It was only about two inches across when I first reported it and they sent someone round but no one actually did anything," he explained.

"I was told there was a dispute over whose responsibility it was and no one would act until that had been sorted."

Croydon Council says because Wickham Road is a red route, Transport for London (TfL) manages it, and Thames Water needs a permit from TfL to do any work.

Sales manager Steve Parkes ended up directing traffic around the gaping hole after his wife, Kathryn, drove her Kia through the hole and ruined her wheels and suspension.

Mr Parkes, from Lichfield Way, Selsdon, said: "She thought she was driving through a puddle and instead it was this deep hole which we believe has caused hundreds of pounds of damage to the car."

In response, a TfL spokeswoman said: "At no point are we stopping Thames Water from working but companies need to apply for permits to start work on certain roads so we don't have a situation where just anyone can turn up and start digging.

"We are going through the permit process with them."

Thames Water declined to comment.