Durham shopping centre evacuated after gas leak

Emergency engineers from Northern Gas Networks (NGN) will be working through the night to investigate a gas escape at the Gates Shopping Centre in Durham.

The centre was evacuated at 9.55am today following reports of a smell of gas outside the building.

NGN evacuated the shopping mall as a safety precaution and is carrying out work to identify the source of the gas escape.

John Richardson, customer operations area manager at NGN, said: “The safety of members of public is our number one priority. Our team of highly skilled engineers will be working throughout the night as they work to repair the gas main.

“We’d like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused and thank everyone for their patience.”

Anyone that smells gas or suspects Carbon Monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

No one from the shopping centre was available for comment.