Tollgate store closed after sprinklers rain down on customers

HUNDREDS of shoppers had to be evacuated from the Tollgate Sainsbury's store after a sprinkler system was activated.

Firefighters from Colchester were called to Sainsbury’s at Tollgate after sprinklers were activated at 5.45pm on Saturday.

Three crews went to the store off Western Approach, Stanway, and worked to isolate the sprinkler system.

The officer in charge described the flooding as extensive.

Fire crews managed to stop the flow of water by 7.08pm.

The flooding hit the bakery aisle and left four customers soaked.

Sainsbury's has apologised to customers, but did manage to reopen the store again on Sunday.

Were you caught up in the drama? Leave you comments below

Comments(6)

nick2480 says...
2:39pm Sun 15 Jul 12

rofl

peachey says...
3:16pm Sun 15 Jul 12

I can picture the scene - there you are admiring the bloomers and minding your own business when ... woooooshhhh lol

Bramble1979 says...
4:20pm Sun 15 Jul 12

This was a complete drama compounded by a lack leadership by those in charge at sainsbury yesterday afternoon.
My wife and I were caught up in it. After the alarms went off no one was evacuated for about 20minutes and told to continue shopping.
Staff were laughing about it, and we saw no clear person in charge. Whilst at the tills we were then forced out in the rain halfway through our transaction. The evacuation left a lot to be desired we were thankful it wasn't a real emergency, we were told we would not be returning to get our shopping and were told to stand in the middle of the carpark in the pouring rain. What a waste of an afternoon. Sainsburys you've lost a customer!

californianana says...
6:01pm Sun 15 Jul 12

Bramble I wonder if the staff would be laughing if they lost a days pay hmmmmm. Peachy thanks for giving my day a good start
A cup of coffee and your comment as its not quite10am here but not a good shopping trip for. Bramble etc....

James 1 says...
7:55pm Sun 15 Jul 12

Common sense says, to me at anyrate, that if one sees water cascading from the ceiling you get the hell out of the place. Not wait for some person to tell you to vacate.

Feisty CBC says...
9:34pm Sun 15 Jul 12

Tesco woudn't have allowd that to happen.
*Waits for Boris* lol

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