Gas leak closes Ellesmere road

A Shropshire town centre road was sealed off following a gas leak.

No homes or businesses were evacuated during the incident in Ellesmere yesterday.

But an emergency road closure was put in place in Watergate Street. Council officials hope the road will reopen today.

Katherine Williams-Davies, spokeswoman for Wales and West Utilities, said they were alerted to the smell of gas at a property in Watergate Street on Thursday and a team was immediately sent to investigate.

She said: "The team discovered there was a leak on the external gas main and carried out a temporary repair."

She said they returned yesterday to complete the repair but due to the location of the leak a temporary road closure was necessary so the work could be carried out safely.

Businesses in the area said they were not affected and were open for businesses as usual.

Helen Morgan, of Morris Cook Chartered Accountants, said they called the utilities company after smelling gas.

She said they tested one of their offices and down in their cellar, before locating the leak outside.

Jane Woollam, owner of The Corner House cafe, said the diversion had not affected them but had affected traffic.