Witham gas fault: About 150 homes still without supply

The roads have been dug up in several areas

About 150 homes are still without gas after a fault led to supplies being switched off to 600 properties last week.

Supplier Cadent turned off the gas to the properties in Witham, Essex, on Thursday and sent dozens of engineers to the site to try to resolve issues.

The company said gas had been restored to about two-thirds of the properties over the weekend.

Engineers hoped to reconnect the rest of the homes on Monday.

Some 25 roads in the King Edward Way area were initially affected.

A boiler showed a fault as the gas had been turned off at the mains

In a statement on its website on Sunday night, Cadent, which looks after much of the UK network, said: "After a day of great progress, we are sorry to have to say that due to a number of engineering challenges in Phase 8, we won't be able to get gas back into this area of Witham tonight.

"We know it's of small comfort and the last thing you wanted to hear, but please be assured that we are confident of being able to restore gas supply to this phase tomorrow (Monday 17 April)."

The company stressed it was important people were at home as its engineers needed to access properties to check meters.

Residents were seen queuing for hot food

Vulnerable customers had been offered heating and cooking facilities, throughout Friday and the weekend, Cadent said.

Two customer support areas were set up on the estate.

Kate Grant, Cadent's network director for the East of England, said: "All affected residents will be compensated because we were not able to provide gas to them.

"The compensation they receive will depend on how long they have been without gas. Householders are entitled to £70 for every 24 hours they were off gas, while businesses will receive £115 per 24 hours off gas.

"This will be paid directly to them via their gas suppliers within 20 working days of the closure of the incident."

Engineers have been on site for several days

It is not yet known what caused the incident, although engineers were carrying out repairs to a mains in the area when the fault occurred.