A SECTION of the busy Plymouth-bound A38 outside Chudleigh will be closed off overnight from 7pm this evening to fix a burst water mains under the carriageway.

The nearside lane between Harcombe Cross and the filling station turn-off to Chudleigh will be a no-go area for traffic as workmen fix the fracture under the carriageway.

The rupture, which left parts of Chudleigh, Luton, Ideford and Olchard without water from Sunday morning until first light today, saw nearly 200 people alert South West Water to their loss of supplies.

A SWW spokeswoman said the broken mains was not as deep-set as previously thought.

It was hoped the repair would be completed well before the start of tomorrow morning’s rush-hour.

Three overland pipes have been in place to carry water to homes affected by the burst.