WATER had to be bought from local shops and procedures cancelled after a burst water main cut a hospital's water supply.

Firefighters from Grays and Basildon were called to Basildon Hospital in Nethermayne at 10.41am yesterday following flooding in the boiler room.

They used light portable pumps to remove the water while Essex and Suffolk Water attempted to find the source of the leak and did not leave the scene until 7.40pm.

The incident affected the hospital's water supply, forcing staff to stock up on bottled water from shops in the surrounding area.

Dialysis procedures for 25 out-patients were also cancelled, instead being advised to go to Orsett Hospital, while the Cardiothoracic Centre's water supply was unaffected.

Essex and Suffolk Water installed an overland supply pipe yesterday evening and are still working on getting the hospital back onto the underground mains supply, which is expected to take up most of the day.