A FIRE crew from Rayleigh Weir was called out to a gas leak in Benfleet this afternoon.

They were called out to the ruptured main in the front garden of a house in Kents Hill Road just after 1pm.

The crew called National Grid so engineers could be sent out to make the scene safe and they were at the scene for two and a half hours.

None of the nearby residents had to be evacuated and the engineers made the main safe.

The road has been closed since 1pm and this has led to long tailbacks at Tarpots and in the surrounding areas.