MANCHESTER - Manchester Water Works cut off water to several east Manchester homes after an 8-inch main ruptured Wednesday afternoon, sending water onto Old Wellington Road, lawns and basements of the small neighborhood near Foxwood Circle.

Water Works Director Tom Bowen said word of a leak came in about 2:30 p.m., and it took about an hour to isolate the line and close valves. By then, water flooded the basements of several homes. He said water levels were about 6 inches in a few basements.

"It looks to be a full (18-foot) length of pipe that broke," Bowen said. He said crews will examine the cast-iron water main once it is unearthed to see what caused the rupture. He expected it would take well into the night to repair it.

He said about six to eight duplexes and a half-dozen homes lost their water service.