A “disastrous” flood caused the ceiling of a Shropshire restaurant to fall in, raining concrete and plaster throughout the building and causing £45,000 of damage.

The Indian Village in Mardol, Shrewsbury, was fully booked until January 15, and had dozens of customer bookings for tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.

But when the pipes burst in an upstairs flat the restaurant and next-door shop Stitch-in-Time were left resembling building sites.

Owner Parvez Choudhury has been left devastated by the event.

He said: “It is a disaster, it happened on Christmas Eve. The night before I was busy getting everything ready. We were fully booked until January 15.

“It was the busy time that everybody had been waiting for, to make some money and stay on track and I have been robbed of it. 

“I am grateful to all of those who are offering support because we are going to need it.”

It is believed the pipes burst in the early hours of the morning on Christmas Eve, filling up the ceiling space until they fell in.

Police attended the scene shortly after 8am following reports of a flood.

Spokesman Richard Ewels said: “We received a call at around 8.15am on December 24 saying that water from what appeared to be a burst water pipe was coming under the door of the Indian Village in Mardol and flowing into a drain in the street. 

“The police attempted to contact the owners.”

Firefighters were also called to the scene shortly before 9.30am. A spokesman said: “Access was gained using small gear and the water supply was isolated.”

Juliette Hope, manager of Stitch-in-Time, said she had no idea how much it was going to cost to get her shop up and running again.

She said: “We have set up in the Giant Party Store in Mardol, we have a corner there and are doing as much as we can.”

Mr Choudhury said he does not know how the flood happened but is looking into claiming on his insurance. 

“I enjoy doing my job but I have been robbed, I wish this had never happened but it has and now all I can do is ask that people will support me in the coming months,” he said.

By Rhea Parsons