Residents were left stranded outside their homes for hours after a gas leak forced urgent evacuations in south Essex.
The incident took place on Southend Road in Great Burstead, Billericay, yesterday afternoon and was caused by contractors damaging a gas pipe on a nearby development site.
Around 45 residents were evacuated as a precaution and told to stay indoors with windows and doors closed due to changing wind conditions.
A spokesman for Cadent Gas said: "The repair was completed at 10:30pm last night.
"Residents were evacuated by the fire service, so we didn’t have control of that but they were allowed back into their properties from 08:30pm as we had the gas escape under control.
"Cadent, the local gas emergency service was called to report of a damaged gas pipe at 14:43 yesterday (03/08/026) afternoon.
"Soon afterwards our emergency engineers arrived on site and were able to confirm a gas pipe had been damaged by contractors on a development site on Southend Road, Billericay."
Emergency services attended the scene, and the road was taped off with temporary traffic lights put in place.
Cadent confirmed that team members worked alongside other emergency services to safely stop the gas leak and complete repairs without interrupting gas supply to homes.
The spokesman added: "The fire service evacuated a few properties as a precaution, and they were allowed back into their homes last night.
"This is a good reminder to put the free national gas emergency number 0800 111 999 into your phone."
A spokesman for Essex Fire and Rescue Service said: "Cadent made the leak safe and crews left the scene at 9.22pm."
Jean Horton, a resident of more than 46 years, was surprised by the disruption.
She said: "I was in Basildon when the road became shut. I've not noticed anything like this before. It's pretty quiet here. It's just one of those things."
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