Concerned residents warn of 'strong smell of gas' across the Black Country
Fire crews and a gas company have received numerous calls from people warning of a "strong smell of gas" in the Black Country – but engineers say no issues with the network have been identified.
West Midlands Fire Service said it has has received a "number of calls" since 11.50am from concerned residents from areas including Wednesbury, Walsall and Tipton.
The service has reassured that it is liaising with Cadent Gas on the issue and has urged those who need to report a gas leak to call 0800 111 999.
Bosses at Cadent gas also confirmed they had received numerous calls. A spokesman said the smell may be traced to "things like factory discharges, aviation fuel or many other reasons".
Elliott Nelson, network director for Cadent in the West Midlands, said: "We've had a larger than usual number of calls today from Wednesbury, Walsall, Tipton and surrounding areas, about a smell that people were concerned is natural gas.
“We investigate each one and, as yet, have not found any evidence of an issue on the gas network that could have caused this. We do get incidents like this from time to time. In the past, we have traced it to things like factory discharges, aviation fuel and many other reasons.
“Our concern in incidents like this is that, in amongst the smells that are not gas, there may be an isolated and unrelated real gas leak. That’s why it’s important to ring the National Gas Emergency service on 0800 111 999, if you ever smell gas, suspect the presence of carbon monoxide, or notice damage to gas pipes.”
Speaking on Facebook, one resident said they could detect the gas smell in the living room of their home.
They said: "Where is it coming from though? I can smell it in my living room, had to open the windows to circulate it back out."
Another person said: "I smell it in Vicarage Road, Wednesbury. Just rang gas emergency line."
A third person added that they could smell the gas in the Bescot area of Walsall.
