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Homes still waiting on gas supply | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Engineers say they will work around the clock in a bid to restore supplies to 18,000 homes in Lancashire left without gas following an explosion. | |
The houses were left without supplies after a gas main ruptured on Monday, setting light to an overhead power cable at Holme Lane, Rawtenstall. | |
Temporary repairs have been made to the power line, but The National Grid is yet to reconnect gas customers. | |
It says it cannot guarantee supplies will be restored before Christmas Day. | |
When we have confirmed that it is safe we can begin restoring gas supplies to homes and businesses. National Grid spokesperson | |
The blast on Monday morning left 18,000 homes without gas and 17,000 without electricity in the Bacup, Waterfoot, Rawtenstall, Newchurch and Crawshawbooth areas. | The blast on Monday morning left 18,000 homes without gas and 17,000 without electricity in the Bacup, Waterfoot, Rawtenstall, Newchurch and Crawshawbooth areas. |
Work to repair the damaged gas pipe was completed on Tuesday morning, but engineers now need to re-pressurise and test the system. | |
A National Grid spokesperson said: "When we have confirmed that it is safe we can begin restoring gas supplies to homes and businesses. | |
"Every effort is being made to do this as soon as possible, however, it is too early to say at this stage when this operation can begin." | |
Repairs risk | Repairs risk |
Engineers will have to call on every individual house to restore the supply and in the meantime anyone without gas should check all appliances are turned off, as well as their meter. | |
United Utilities said it had restored power to homes cut off when the line was damaged, but warned of further possible disruption. | |
A spokesperson said: "Engineers have made temporary repairs to the power line that was damaged by the fire from National Grid's gas main. | A spokesperson said: "Engineers have made temporary repairs to the power line that was damaged by the fire from National Grid's gas main. |
"However, there is still a risk that these repairs may not hold and power supplies could be lost again. | "However, there is still a risk that these repairs may not hold and power supplies could be lost again. |
"If this happens, United Utilities would rotate power supplies for the next three to four days until a new emergency power line can be constructed. | "If this happens, United Utilities would rotate power supplies for the next three to four days until a new emergency power line can be constructed. |
"This would mean that 4,000 properties in the area would be re-energised for a period of around two hours on a rota basis." | |
Traffic on the nearby A56 Edenfield bypass was also affected and remains partly closed. | Traffic on the nearby A56 Edenfield bypass was also affected and remains partly closed. |