Gas supply cut off to almost 300 homes

Gas supplies in Winnersh have been off since Tuesday afternoon

Almost 300 properties in a Berkshire village are without gas for a second day.

Supplies were lost in Winnersh on Tuesday afternoon when Southern Gas Networks (SGN) engineers started visiting homes to turn off the gas at the meter.

An incident vehicle has been set up on Reading Road with electric hot plates and cooking appliances to serve food to the elderly, disabled, chronically sick or those with young children or other special needs.

SGN said it was "too early to say" when supplies would be restored, but that work would continue into the evening.

Anyone with a gas meter inside their home who was out when the engineers came round needs to call SGN to arrange a re-visit as soon as possible.

SGN said there were about nine homes "which we've not been able to gain access to".

"It's really important that we get access as soon as possible to turn off their gas supplies at the meter," the firm said.

Apologising for the inconvenience this has caused to those affected, it said work to repair the fault was under way.

"Winnersh residents will see a large presence from our engineers on site today," it continued.

"Please take extra care around any excavations and barriers which are there for your safety.

"Be assured we are working as hard as we can to resolve the situation as soon as possible."