Sandringham Estate forced to close after ‘plumbing issue’ on hottest day of the year
Hundreds of homes have been left without water while the King’s Sandringham Estate has been forced to close after a major pipe burst in Norfolk.
Facilities on the historic site, including the restaurant, gardens and house will remain closed on Thursday after a burst main left toilets out of action.
The popular attraction said in a statement: ‘The Estate will be closed all day to visitors due to an emergency plumbing issue. We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.’
The estate added while the Royal Parklands will remain open, toilets would not be available onsite.
It is thought that the King is not currently at the royal residence.
Homes in the local area, including in Dersington, Wolfreton, Shernborne, Flitcham and Babingley, have also been affected.
Anglian Water said it hoped to resume water supply to residents by 5pm, but that the issue had ‘proved more complicated to fix than we first expected’.
It told customers: ‘We’re sorry you’re still experiencing either very low water pressure or no water at all in Sandringham and surrounding areas.
‘This is being caused by a burst water main in your area. We’ve had to extend our repair time because it’s proving more complicated to fix than we first expected. Our team on the ground is working as fast as they can to get things back to normal for you.’
It comes as temperatures were expected to reach nearly 30C in parts after the country basked in its third warmest April on record.
Meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: ‘The sun is as strong at this time of year as it is in August.
‘Under high pressure, the air tends to sink, get compressed, and warm up – so it’s fair to say this latest period of very warm weather has been “home-grown”.’
The heat intensified at the end of the month, with 26.7C recorded at Wisley in Surrey on April 30 – making it the joint warmest April day on record.
But that was quickly overtaken on Thursday, when Kew Gardens in south-west London reached 28C – the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK on May 1.
It beat the previous record of 27.4C set in Lossiemouth, Moray, in 1990, and marked the warmest day of the year so far.
Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle said: ‘It is quite unusual for temperatures to hit 25C fairly widely in April. The last time was in 2018, and before that April 2011.’
Rainfall was well below average for most of the UK last month, with just 56% of expected totals recorded.
Tyne and Wear had its second driest April on record, with only 7% of its usual rainfall.
With March also breaking sunshine records in England, the UK has now had its warmest and brightest start to spring since records began in the 19th century.
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