Residents evacuated after car hits Rothley gas station

A "small number" of residents in nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution

Several people were evacuated from their homes after a car crashed into a small gas station in Leicestershire.

Officers were called at about 06:30 GMT to a report of a crash involving one car at The Ridings, Rothley.

A "small number" of residents in nearby properties were evacuated but have now returned home and others were advised to stay indoors with windows closed.

A 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and remains in custody, said police.

Cadent, which manages the local gas network, said gas was escaping into the air from the "governor station" but engineers have now stopped it.

The driver, who left the scene, was in a black Peugeot when it collided with the gas station, say police

Leicestershire Police said The Ridings was closed at its junctions with Westfield Lane and the Ridgeway, and Swithland Lane was closed at its junctions with The Ridings, West Cross Lane and Carisbrooke Road.

All the roads have since re-opened but a cordon remains in place at the station while gas engineers continue to carry out their work.

The earlier advice asking people living locally to stay indoors with their windows closed no longer applies, said police.

Crews from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service were also at the scene earlier.

The car was taken from the scene on a recovery lorry

A spokesman from Cadent said: "A vehicle has hit one of our governor stations - a small kiosk beside the road, which manages gas pressures in the local area.

"Gas was escaping, into the air, but our engineers have now stopped that.

"The location is at least 100 metres from the nearest property, so people should not be worried about their safety.

"It affected gas pressures in the local area, in some cases with properties losing supply, but that has all also now been resolved by our engineers."

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