National Grid has restored gas supplies to around 5,000 homes in Rossendale, including 30 care homes, after 300 engineers worked through the night to get people reconnected.

Around 18,000 properties lost their supply on Monday morning after gas caught fire during repair work on a 500mm medium pressure main in Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire.

National Grid engineers worked around the clock to repair the damaged main and get gas back into the local pipeline network, and on Tuesday night they began the task of visiting homes in Bacup, Waterfoot, Newchurch, Rawtenstall and Crawshawbooth to switch supplies on safely.

National Grid’s Director of Operations Jon Butterworth said: “This is a mammoth task but local people have been fantastic. I want to apologise for the inconvenience but also to thank people for their patience while we have been fixing the problem, and also for letting us into their homes during the night to get their gas supplies on for Christmas.

“We still need to visit thousands of homes but we have a dedicated workforce, many of whom have given up their own Christmas holidays, and as long as we can get access to properties we hope to get most people back on gas supply in time for Christmas Day.

“Our engineers will continue calling on people throughout Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day. Working hand in hand with the community demonstrates the real power of action, and with their co-operation we hope to help local people have a warm Christmas after all.”

Safety remains National Grid’s top priority and it is necessary to reconnect the gas supply in a safe and systematic manner.

Our engineers will require access to homes and businesses in order to restore the gas supply and relight the appliances safely. Householders must not attempt to switch their gas supply on before an engineer has visited their property.
 
In the meantime people without gas should check all gas appliances are turned off and their gas supply is turned off at the meter. 
 
Please remember to ask for identification when an engineer requests access to your property. If you have any doubt to the authenticity of the engineers, please call 0845 605 6677.
 
If anyone requires help or has any concerns please call the national gas emergency service on 0800 111 999.

Further media enquiries to 01926 656536.