Ancient gas pipe identified as source of leak which closed roads for 4½ hours in Northampton

Gas pipeline firm Cadent confirmed the leak which closed roads in Northampton last night came from one of the ancient pipes which are currently being replaced.

Police shut off roads near to the Racecourse while engineers arrived within 15 minutes to fix the leak.

East Park Terrace was blocked off for around 4½ hours between Derby Road and the White Elephant and nearby Holly Road was also cordoned off with traffic diverted through Abington.

No homes were evacuated.

Cadent is the UK's largest gas distribution network and manages a more than 80,000 miles of pipes, most of them underground, which transport gas to 11million customers.

They are currently carrying out gas main replacement work in East Park Parade, opposite the Racecourse.

A statement from the company said: "The smell of gas was reported to us by police and a member of the public at approximately 7.15pm on Thursday (June 11). Our engineers were on site at approximately 7.30pm.

"They located the gas escape being caused by a loose plug in an old pipe which is currently being replaced and repaired it.

"There was no loss of supply and no evacuations were required."

Cadent's engineers are close to finishing work which started on May 18 to replace 465 metres of ageing gas pipes with tough new pipes which should last well into the next century.

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