Tipton school pupils sent home after gas leak
Parents were asked to come and collect their children early from a Tipton school today after reports of a gas leak in the area.
Pupils at Wednesbury Oak Academy were collected several hours early as staff felt it was 'in the interest of safety'.
It is thought other schools were also closed for part of the day, but Sandwell Council were unable to confirm.
Workers for Cadent Gas are currently replacing ageing gas mains in the Alexandra Road area of the town and a spokesman for the firm confirmed there had been a gas leak.
Liz Perrin, chairman of governors at the primary school said: "We contacted Cadent Gas due to a strong smell of gas.
“We were informed there was a gas leak in the area and that other local schools had taken the decision to close.
"In the interest of the safety of our children we took the decision to close the school and contacted parents."
A resident, who did not wished to be named, said the smell of 'pure gas' in the area was very strong.
He said: "You can smell it in the street all around. We just want to know if we're in any danger."
Cadent is replacing old metal gas mains in Alexandra Road with 'tough new plastic pipes' they say will last until the end of the century.
Work started last week and is expected to take nine weeks overall.
