Gas leak closes train station

A MAJOR gas leak in central London forced the closure of Charing Cross train station and the evacuation of hundreds of people from nearby nightclubs and hotels on Tuesday.

Police closed the Strand, a major road artery that leads into Trafalgar Square and advised people to avoid the area.

The fire brigade said it was called at 2am and was dealing with a ruptured gas main emitting “high levels of natural gas”. Some 20 firefighters were at the scene. The emergency prompted police to evacuate 1,450 people from hotels and the Heaven nightclub.