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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Christmas gas warning after blast | Christmas gas warning after blast |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of homes may still be without gas supplies at Christmas after an explosion brought down power lines near a sub station in Lancashire. | Thousands of homes may still be without gas supplies at Christmas after an explosion brought down power lines near a sub station in Lancashire. |
| A gas leak was being fixed on Monday morning when a gas main ruptured, setting light to an overhead power cable at Holme Lane in Rawtenstall. | A gas leak was being fixed on Monday morning when a gas main ruptured, setting light to an overhead power cable at Holme Lane in Rawtenstall. |
| The blast left 18,000 homes without gas and 17,000 without electricity. | The blast left 18,000 homes without gas and 17,000 without electricity. |
| The National Grid said it may not be able to restore all gas supplies in the area before Christmas Day. | The National Grid said it may not be able to restore all gas supplies in the area before Christmas Day. |
| It has urged those affected in the Bacup, Waterfoot, Rawtenstall, Newchurch and Crawshawbooth areas to turn off all gas supplies and equipment. | It has urged those affected in the Bacup, Waterfoot, Rawtenstall, Newchurch and Crawshawbooth areas to turn off all gas supplies and equipment. |
| A spokeswoman said: "National Grid apologises for any inconvenience and is making every effort to restore gas supplies as soon as possible. | A spokeswoman said: "National Grid apologises for any inconvenience and is making every effort to restore gas supplies as soon as possible. |
| A police cordon remains in place around the area | |
| "However, we may not be able to restore all supplies before Christmas Day. | "However, we may not be able to restore all supplies before Christmas Day. |
| "The safety of local people is our top priority. We are working with the local authority to identify people who need special help. | "The safety of local people is our top priority. We are working with the local authority to identify people who need special help. |
| "We are appealing to people to be good neighbours and check on those they know to be elderly or infirm." | "We are appealing to people to be good neighbours and check on those they know to be elderly or infirm." |
| A United Utilities spokesman said about 17,000 homes were without electricity after the blast, but all were expected to be reconnected by 2000 BST. | A United Utilities spokesman said about 17,000 homes were without electricity after the blast, but all were expected to be reconnected by 2000 BST. |
| Homes were previously being given power on a two-hour on, two-hour off rota system while the problem was dealt with. | Homes were previously being given power on a two-hour on, two-hour off rota system while the problem was dealt with. |
| The spokesman said: "There was a serious gas escape and fire this morning, on a gas main owned by National Grid. | The spokesman said: "There was a serious gas escape and fire this morning, on a gas main owned by National Grid. |
| "The fire damaged an electricity line in the vicinity, owned by United Utilities. | "The fire damaged an electricity line in the vicinity, owned by United Utilities. |
| "At the request of the fire service, United Utilities engineers shut off power to the electricity line at around midday, so that the blaze could be tackled." | "At the request of the fire service, United Utilities engineers shut off power to the electricity line at around midday, so that the blaze could be tackled." |
| A police cordon remains in place around the area. | A police cordon remains in place around the area. |
| Traffic on the nearby A56 Edenfield bypass is affected and neighbouring properties have been evacuated. | Traffic on the nearby A56 Edenfield bypass is affected and neighbouring properties have been evacuated. |