Warning over major gas leak

An exclusion zone was set up and residents urged to keep windows and doors shut while engineers dealt with a major gas leak. Firefighters and experts from gas company SGN were called to Ratling Road in Aylesham at 10pm on Saturday after the fault with the pipe was discovered. A depot for delivery firm Yodel was also evacuated as a precaution.

A spokesman for SGN said: “To ensure everyone’s safety while we repair our network, we’ve set up an exclusion zone around the site.

“This means we’ve needed to evacuate the nearby commercial property and close a section of Ratling Road to motorists.

“A signed diversion is in place while we carry out this urgent work.”

Yodel was understood to have temporarily moved operations to its Maidstone depot.

The problem was expected to be fixed yesterday (Wednesday). “We’re currently on site monitoring the leak, carrying out safety checks and preparing to make the repair to our pipe,” the SGN spokesman said on

Sunday.

He said the “complex repair” required specialist equipment. One onlooker captured an alarming whooshing sound on video while filming at the scene on Sunday.

She said: “The stench was absolutely nauseating and left me with a banging headache. “The roar from the sound of the gas escaping was quite staggering; it was completely at odds with the stillness in the air on what was a bright, beautiful day.”

Fire crews left the scene just before 11.40am on Sunday. A fire service spokesman said: “Residents of Aylesham and Nonnington are urged to please continue in keeping windows and doors closed.

“They are also asked to not light any bonfires or let off any fireworks at this time.”

Ratling Road was sealed off while the gas leak was repaired

SGN at the scene of the leak