Leaky fuel pipe

I thought I'd fire up Compo yesterday since I had'nt driven it for about 4 months. As usual, the fuel line to the carb was empty so I poured a bit of petrol into the top of the carb and fired it up, I had to do this a couple.of times before it had pumped fuel through to the carb. After a minute or so of it running on tickover I noticed a drop of fluid fall off the bit of pipe connected to the fuel filter. At first I thought it was condensation, then suddenly petrol was squirting all over the place and dripping onto the exhaust manifold. The pipe in question is less than 2 years old and is supposed to be good for this new enthanol enriched petrol but basically its just rubber pipe with a cotton braid covering. Ive since replaced that bit of pipe but what would cause it? Do ya think the fact that the petrol had drained out of it caused it to perish internally?

Col

Impossible to say without splitting the pipe and having a prod about.