City Hall closed due to flooding

The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone's office is based at City Hall

Flooding from a burst water main has forced London's City Hall and several businesses to close.

The announcement of the 1 May election results may have to move to another location as a result and officials are deciding between alternative buildings.

The water main burst on Sunday morning in Tooley Street, which will be closed during the next week.

Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital NHS Trust has postponed 21 non-emergency planned operations due to the incident.

A spokesman said the hospital was forced to take the action because it was experiencing problems with its external power supply.

All patients due to visit the hospital are advised to keep their appointments unless they get a call from staff advising otherwise.

'Businesses affected'

A Thames Water spokesman said other businesses in and around Tooley Street without power had been forced to close.

"Hopefully there will not be too many local businesses affected," he said.

On Sunday, Thames Water received almost 2,000 calls from customers reporting low pressure or no water supply at all.

Up to 4,000 properties in south London may have been affected by the incident, but all properties had their water fully restored by Sunday afternoon.

The counting of votes for the London Mayoral election on 1 May will take place as planned at Excel, Alexandra Palace and London's Olympia.

City Hall is the home of London's governmental headquarters where the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone's office is based.