Shops closed in gas leak drama
Scores of shoppers and staff were evacuated from a Stourbridge shopping centre and nearby precinct today following a gas leak sparked by workmen.
The Ryemarket, neighbouring Victoria Passage and Talbot Street were cordoned off as police, fire crews and gas officials converged at the scene at around 10am today.
The shopping centre and precinct remained closed into this afternoon as urgent repairs were carried out on the gas main. It was not known exactly when the shopping areas would reopen-open.
Both the shopping centre and precinct had already been evacuated when the emergency services arrived with shoppers looking on as the area was sealed off.
Officials from National Grid Gas quickly isolated the section of main hit and an investigation has been launched to assess the extent of the damage.
Firefighter Baz Clarke, of Brierley Hill Fire Station, said: "We were called at around 10am after the gas leak was reported. It seems like workmen carrying out work behind the old camera shop accidentally hit the gas main and caused the leak.
"The evacuation and sealing off the centre and Victoria Passage is a safety precaution."
National Grid spokeswoman Jane Taylor said: "Workers were carrying out alteration and renovation work in one of the shops in the Ryemarket and one of them drilled through a gas pipe.
She said engineers were assessing gas levels to reopen as soon as possible.
