Melbourne garbage collector's minor prang sends water gushing into the air

A garbage collector has been left red-faced and perhaps slightly wet after accidentally knocking over a fire hydrant in Richmond this morning.

Melbourne Water were called to reports of a burst water main on Bridge Road at 8.30am.

Video obtained by 9NEWS shows the truck slowly reverse, possibly hoping to avoid catastrophe, before water is seen rocketing into the sky.

Crews from Melbourne Water arrived at the scene at 8.54am shut off the supply almost immediately.

Work on the damaged fire hydrant was expected to be completed by midday.