Gas off in 4,600 South Hams' homes as temperatures plummet

100 engineers working on reconnections

Work is continuing this morning to reconnect thousands of homes in the South Hams that have been left without gas following damage to a mains pipe in Kingsbridge on Saturday.

With temperatures below freezing, Wales and West Utilities has more than a hundred engineers going from property to property to ensure safe reconnection.

They say the issue has been caused by a third party working on land near Kingbridge, and that most homes in Marlborough are now back on, with Kingsbridge and Salcombe to follow.

Around 4,600 properties have had their gas cut off. Gas engineers need to reconnect them.

Kingsbridge Community College and Primary School will be closed today because there's no heating or hot water.

Wales and West Utilities has drafted in engineers from elsewhere across its network, and more than 100 have been working on the issues.

The company says: “As a result of isolating the majority of properties in Malborough, we have been able to commence restoring gas supplies there this afternoon. Our teams will continue working late into the evening, visiting as many properties as they can and will continue from first thing tomorrow morning.

“While our teams have also made good progress accessing properties in Kingsbridge and Salcombe, we still have a number of properties where we have not been able to gain access.

"Our teams will continue trying into this evening and from first thing, and we really do urge people to ensure someone is at the property so that we can have access to isolate the supply.  The quicker we can isolate the majority of supplies in these areas, the quicker we can commence restoring the wider supplies.

“We continue to appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to restore supplies and would value people’s support in enabling us to gain access to properties."