ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Oscars 2013 hopefuls arriving at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday night had to navigate inch-deep water after a pipe burst in the washrooms.

Those arriving for Hollywood's most glittering occasion of the year were forced to hitch up the fabric of their voluminous skirts after the ladies toilets overflowed flooding the lobby.

Pictures were tweeted of the cleaning staff frantically sweeping the water away just prior to the opening curtain.

Lynette Rice posted a picture, shown here, on the social networking site.

LA City Fire department could not confirm the cause of the leak.

The 85th Academy Awards went off otherwise without a hitch.