Turn the water off at the inside stop tap first, turning it clockwise. It is usually under the kitchen sink, but it can be in a downstairs toilet, a garage, a cellar or under the stairs. Turn it slowly and never force it, as too much force can damage it. If it will not turn, call a plumber.
If water may have reached the electrics, switch the power off at the fuse box. Do not touch sockets or wiring that may have got wet. Check the ceilings as well, because a bulge means water is pooling above. Keep clear of it in case it comes down.
With the stop tap off, flush the toilets and open the cold taps over sinks and baths to drain the pipes. Turn off the central heating and any immersion heater, so nothing heats while the system is empty. Soak up what you can with towels or buckets, and move furniture away from the wet area.
Shutting the water off early means less to mop up and fewer belongings spoiled. It pays to find your stop tap before you need it and check it works every six months. If a pipe does burst, keep the water off and ring me so I can repair it as soon as possible. At Optimum HVAC I repair burst pipes across Battle, so have a look at my general plumbing page and save my number before winter.
