PLANS to reopen the London-bound carriageway of the A210 (Eltham Hill) tomorrow have been shelved by Thames Water.

The firm announced this morning that work on a damaged pipe would be completed this afternoon and the road would be re-opened by tomorrow morning.

But a Thames Water spokesman has issued an apology saying it will be the end of the weekend before things return to normal.

Engineers began digging up part of the carriageway yesterday afternoon to fix a leak after a major pipe burst.

The mains were partially switched off for two hours today as workers struggled to fix the pipe as water continued to leak.

The flow was turned back on at 3pm.

Water bosses say the pipe will be reinforced with a "metal clamp" to ensure it does not burst again.

A spokesman said: "Unfortunately the carriageway will not re-open tomorrow, but hopefully by the end of the weekend.

"The timeframe will depend on how we are instructed to repair the road by the Highways Agency."

General traffic is being diverted along the Well Hall Road to Westhorne Avenue towards the Yorkshire Grey Roundabout, Eltham.

Major delays are likely.

Paul McCrossen is one of the directors for plumbing firm JRE Dinnage based in Eltham Hill.

He said: "The road closure is going to cause inconvenience to our staff as they travel out on jobs.

"I'm just about to go out on a job now and ideally need to get on the London-bound carriageway, but I'll just have to follow the diversions.

"I hope it's sorted out quickly."

Secretary Valerie Stark from Bernard H Skinner and Co estate agents in Well Hall Road, Eltham says traffic levels appear to be normal despite the road closure.

Well Hall Road forms one of the diversion routes.