Approximately 170 residential properties in the village of Hayton near Carlisle are currently without gas after water made its way into a gas main.

A team of engineers from Northern Gas Networks (NGN) are on site investigating the cause and preparing to remove the water from the gas pipes.

In order to safely remove the water from the gas main and carry out the repair it is necessary for engineers to turn the gas supply to affected properties off at the meter.

Matty McBride, customer operations area manager, Northern Gas Networks said, “Our engineers are on site hand delivering letters and door knocking customers in order to get access to their properties to turn off the gas at the meter.  If you’re not at home when we call round please contact us as soon as you return to arrange for your gas supply to be safely turned off at the meter.  You can either speak to an engineer on site or contact the Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766 to arrange this.”

Mr McBride added: “We have set up a temporary incident room in the Village Hall (CA8 9HR) where residents can drop by and ask any questions. Electric heaters and hot plates are being hand delivered to customers and welfare facilities are being arranged.

“We are working to identify any vulnerable customers in the area and ensure that they are looked after as a priority. We would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused. Please be assured that we are doing all we can to get everyone affected back on gas as quickly as possible.”

Anyone with any questions or concerns is being asked to speak to an engineer on site, drop into the Village Hall or contact NGN’s Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766.

Anyone who smells gas should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.