Town centre closed after gas leak (From Andover Advertiser)

Town centre closed after gas leak

5:35am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in National News © Press Association 2013

Emergency services have closed off a town centre in London following a "major gas leak", Scotland Yard has said.

Around 120 people have been evacuated from their homes after the leak in St Andrews Road, Enfield, and are being cared for by the local authority.

Police, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade are at the scene along with the National Grid.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the leak was caused by maintenance work in the area. He said: "An extensive cordon is in place. Enfield town centre is closed to all traffic and pedestrians. Enfield Town train station is also closed until further notice. No buses are entering or leaving the area at this time."

Police were called to reports of the leak at around 12.30am.

London Fire Brigade said in a statement that firefighters are working with gas engineers to establish the extent of the leak, using specialist detection and monitoring equipment.

The statement said: "Two fire crews from Enfield and Southgate fire stations and a fire rescue unit from Edmonton are attending the incident."

A 200 metre hazard zone is in place around St Andrews Road, which is just a short walk from Enfield Town station.

Trains are currently suspended between Enfield Town and London Liverpool Street on the Greater Anglia service, National Rail added. Passengers can still use First Capital Connect services between Enfield Chase and London Kings Cross.

No one has been injured or taken to hospital, a police spokesman said.