A water main break has closed George Street in the ByWard Market Thursday morning, with repairs expected to last into the afternoon.

Police closed the road between Dalhousie Street and Sussex Drive starting around 6 a.m. City crews remain on the scene of the flooded street.

The councillor for the area Mathieu Fleury tweeted earlier in the day that repairs were expected to be finished around 3 p.m.

Nearby businesses including McDonald's and Tim Hortons are closed because of the water main break.

Drivers are asked to avoid the area.