12.10pm update: Temperatures, reaching 27C stopped a section the newly-laid surface on the Nene Parkway from setting yesterday. It is due to open early this afternoon (Wednesday, 2 July).

The hot weather prevented new Tarmac on the west carriageway of the Nene Parkway from setting yesterday – causing even more delays for hundreds of motorists.

The road between its junctions with the A1179 Longthorpe Parkway and A47 Soke Parkway has been partially closed to motorists since 9.30am on Sunday when a water main burst.

The road was expected to have been reopened last night after Anglian Water had repaired the leak and resurfaced the carriageway.

But the unexpected soaring temperatures meant the Tarmac did not have any chance of setting in time.

An Anglian Water spokeswoman said: "We were scheduled to re-open the road late last night, but due to the damage caused by the water we had to put down two coats of tarmac to ensure it does not happen again.

"This also had to be to a certain depth and due to the hot weather yesterday the Tarmac put down did not get a chance to set."

An Anglian Water team will be inspecting the road this morning and were expecting to fully re-open the road to traffic during the day.

Related: Burst watermain on Nene Parkway 2 July 2008.