EDINBURGH’S theatre district is used to gushing but no-one was prepared for a stream of water soaring 60ft in to the air.
The geyser spouted into the sky after workers at a nearby theatre tried to channel water from a stand pipe to the building.
Cars, pedestrians and tenements in Leven Street were soaked by the cascading water.
A spokesman for the construction form, H&J Martin, who are refurbishing the King’s Theatre, said the standpipe “blew its top” at around 3pm.
He added that the situation was resolved in 15 minutes.
Mike Baillie, who owns a nearby deli, said: “I had a customer come in from America to say he reckoned Old Faithful had erupted outside the shop.
“So I had a look outside and saw the water gushing high into the air – it was really quite spectacular.”
Another shopkeeper, Sean Wood, added: “There appeared to be some bemused workmen scratching their heads.
